Variable code rate and signal constellation turbo trellis coded modulation codec

ABSTRACT

Variable code rate and signal constellation turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM) codec. The decoding can be performed on signals whose various symbols have been mapped to multiple modulations (constellations and mappings) according to a rate control sequence. The rate control sequence may include a number of rate controls arranged in a period that is repeated during encoding to generate the signal that is subsequently decoded. Either one or both of an encoder that generates the signal and a decoder that decodes the signal may adaptively select a new rate control sequence based on operating conditions of the communication system, such as a change in signal to noise ratio (SNR).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS/PATENT APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, as a continuation, to the following U.S. Utility Patent Application which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes:

1. Continuation of U.S. Utility Application Ser. No. 10/264,486, entitled “VARIABLE CODE RATE AND SIGNAL CONSTELLATION TURBO TRELLIS CODED MODULATION CODEC,”, filed Oct. 04, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,187 B2, issued on Aug. 16, 2006, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/384,698, filed May 31, 2002 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and is made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes:

1. U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/384,698, entitled “VARIABLE CODE RATE AND SIGNAL CONSTELLATION TURBO TRELLIS CODED MODULATION CODEC,”, filed May 31, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to communication systems; and, more particularly, it relates to turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM) communication systems and/or parallel concatenated turbo code modulated (PC-TCM) communication systems.

2. Description of Related Art

Turbo code and variants thereof have been the focus of a great deal of interest in the recent years. A primary directive in this area of development has been to try continually to lower the error floor within a communication system. The ideal goal has been to try reach Shannon's limit in a communication channel. Shannon's limit may be viewed as being the data rate that is used in a communication channel, having a particular signal to noise ratio (SNR), that will achieve error free transmission through the channel. In other words, the Shannon limit is the theoretical bound for channel capacity for a given modulation and code rate. The code rate is the ratio of information bits over the total number of bits transmitted within the communication system. In the turbo code context, it is common to refer to code rate of n/m, where n is the number of information bits and m is the total number of bits, and where m>n. The difference between m and n is typically referred to as the number of redundant bits. Turbo codes typically introduce a degree of redundancy to at least a portion of data prior to transmission through a communication channel. This is generally referred to as forward error correction (FEC) coding.

Although there has been much development within the context of turbo code and related coding applications with increased interest recently, this focus has been primarily towards achieving very low bit error rates (BERs) across relatively noisy communication channels. As such, these prior art turbo codes largely operate at relatively low rates across the noisy communication channels. The area of turbo code and variants thereof is still an area of relative immaturity in the technological development sense. While there has no doubt been a great amount of progress achieved this far, there still remains a great deal of development and improvement that can be done. This is a technology area where industry-wide consensus has certainly not yet been achieved, and there are many competing viewpoint within the industry as to which direction effort should be directed.

The use of turbo codes providing such low error, while operating at relatively low rates, has largely been in the context of communication systems having a large degree of noise within the communication channel and where substantially error free communication is held at the highest premium. Some of the earliest application arenas for turbo coding were space related where accurate (ideally error free), communication is often deemed an essential design criterion. The direction of development then moved towards developing terrestrial-applicable and consumer-related applications. Still, the focus of effort here has continued to be achieving low error floors, and not specifically towards reaching higher throughput.

As such, there exists a need in the art to develop turbo code related coding that is operable to support higher amounts of throughput while still preserving the relatively low error floors offered within the turbo code context. Whereas the development of turbo code related technology has primarily been directed towards relatively low rates across noisy communication channels, there exists a need to overcome the many hurdles that prevent the application of turbo code to higher data rate applications. In doing so, these higher data rate applications may benefit from the low BERs offered by turbo codes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the invention can be found in a turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM) codec that is operable to support a number of constellations and mappings associated with them. The encoding and decoding within the TTCM codec involves employing a common trellis. Duplicate trellises are employed at both ends of the codec to ensure proper encoding and decoding of data. Selective puncturing of bits output from a single encoder may be performed to allow a single encoder to perform encoding of data according to a variety of modulations (some possibly having different numbers of constellation points and each constellation may have different mappings). In this fashion, a single encoder is able to emulate and actually to perform the encoding equivalent to that which would be achieved using a variety of encoders. For all of the various types of encoding that may be supported by this single encoder, a single trellis is used to perform the encoding thereof. This same trellis is then used to decode the encoded data at the decoder.

One embodiment of the invention employs a TTCM codec that includes a TTCM encoder and a TTCM decoder within a communication system or within a single device. Another embodiment of the invention employs only a TTCM encoder within a device, and yet another embodiment of the invention employs only a TTCM decoder within a device. Certain aspects of the invention may be performed at both ends of a communication channel in either one or both of a transmitter and a receiver.

The variable code rate functionality of the invention is governed in large part using a rate control sequencer that provides a rate control sequence. The rate control sequence includes one or more rate controls, and each rate control contains information concerning a modulation (that includes a constellation and a mapping for a symbol). Each of the modulations has an individual bandwidth efficiency. Moreover, as will be seen, this rate control sequence may be modified and changed in response to a number of factors including SNR of a communication channel and other operating conditions of a communication system.

The invention also envisions one embodiment of a variable code rate TTCM encoder that includes two interleavers and two constituent trellis encoders. Each of the two interleavers and two constituent trellis encoders operate on the same input bits. These two parallel concatenated paths constitute an upper and a lower path (which may also be referred to as a top and a bottom path, or a first and a second path). The outputs of each of these two parallel concatenated paths are alternatively selected to generate encoded bits according to the modulation (constellation and mapping) of at least one rate control of the rate control sequence. Selected bits from these now-encoded bits may then be punctured, if directed by the rate control sequencer, to generate encoded symbols. These encoded symbols are selectively mapped according to the modulation (constellation and mapping) of one of the rate controls of the rate control sequence.

The encoding of the TTCM encoder may transition across a number of rate controls within one or more rate control sequences. These rate controls may be arranged in a period within the rate control sequence. That is to say, a number of modulations (constellations and their mappings) may be arranged in a period over which the encoding is performed. This period may be repeated a predetermined period of times within a one or more frames of data or a sequence of data.

The invention also envisions an embodiment of a variable code rate TTCM decoder that is operable to decode the encoded data after being transmitted from the variable code rate TTCM encoder. In the interim between a TTCM encoder and a TTCM decoder, the invention envisions a whole host of up-converting, transmission, receipt, down-converting, and other operations that may be performed within a communication system in which the TTCM encoder and the TTCM decoder reside. The TTCM decoder may employ a metric generator that calculates metrics corresponding to received symbols and maps those received symbol metrics using the same trellis employed by the first constituent trellis encoder and the second constituent trellis encoder. The TTCM decoder then generates output metrics according to the modulation (constellation and mapping) of the rate control sequence. A soft-in soft-out functional block (SISO) then generates soft symbol decisions, using the output metrics, according to the rate control sequence. Ultimately, an output processor generates hard decisions to decode the input bits that were encoded by the TTCM encoder, using the soft symbol decisions, according to the rate control sequence, thereby making best estimates of the data communicated to the TTCM decoder.

A TTCM codec designed according to the invention may be emplaced within a satellite communication system, a high definition television (HDTV) communication system, a cellular communication system, a cellular communication system, a microwave communication system, a point-to-point radio communication system, a uni-directional communication system, a bi-directional communication system, and/or a one to many TTCM communication system. Moreover, TTCM encoder designed according to the invention may be contained within a number of devices including a satellite transmitter, a high definition television (HDTV) transmitter, a mobile transmitter, a base station transmitter, a transmitter, and a transceiver. Similarly, a TTCM decoder designed according to the invention may be contained within a number of devices including a satellite receiver, a high definition television (HDTV) set top box receiver, a mobile receiver, a base station receiver, a receiver, and a transceiver.

Other aspects of the invention may be found in one of a variety of embodiments of TTCM variable code rate coding methods that employ a rate control sequence. The rate control sequence includes one or more modulations (constellations and mappings), and each modulation provides a bandwidth efficiency. The TTCM variable code rate coding method also involves cycling through the modulations and the mappings defined by the rate control sequence, and may also involve employing interleaving, to encode information bits thereby generating an average bandwidth efficiency provided by the encoded symbols. The TTCM variable code rate coding method also involves cycling through the modulations and the mappings defined by the rate control sequence to decode the encoded symbols using the same trellis. The invention also envisions methods that perform only TTCM variable code rate encoding or only TTCM variable code rate decoding as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a satellite communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a HDTV communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a cellular communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a cellular communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a microwave communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a point-to-point communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a uni-directional TTCM communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a bi-directional TTCM communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a one to many TTCM communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a satellite receiver set-top box system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM communication system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a single interleaver embodiment of the turbo encoder of the FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a dual interleaver embodiment of the turbo encoder of the FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a systematic encoder that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a non-systematic encoder that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a non-systematic encoder using puncturing and rate control sequencer to support multiple encoders according to the invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of periodic sequencing of a non-systematic encoder using puncturing and rate control sequencer according to the invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a generic embodiment of variable puncturing, constellation, and mapping using a single encoder according to the invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a rate 1/2 recursive convolutional encoder with non-systematic output that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a rate 2/5 prototype encoder that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a rate 2/5 systematic prototype encoder that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder of the FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a trellis diagram of a trellis employed by the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder of the FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating the functional operation the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder of the FIG. 20 using puncturing and rate control sequencer to support multiple encoders performing various rate controls according to the invention.

FIG. 25 shows additional rate controls supported by the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder of the FIG. 20.

FIG. 26 shows yet additional rate controls supported by the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder of the FIG. 20.

FIGS. 27, 28, 29, and 30 are diagrams illustrating embodiments of periodic sequencing of the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder of the FIG. 20 using puncturing and rate control sequencer according to the invention.

FIG. 31 is a constellation diagram illustrating an embodiment of rate control governed mapping to 8 PSK constellations according to the invention.

FIGS. 32, 33, and 34 are constellation diagrams illustrating embodiments of rate control governed mapping to QPSK constellations according to the invention.

FIG. 35 is a constellation diagram illustrating an embodiment of rate control governed mapping to a 16 QAM constellation according to the invention.

FIG. 36 is a constellation diagram illustrating an embodiment of rate control governed mapping to 16 APSK constellations according to the invention.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of variable puncturing, modulation, and mapping using the single non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder of the FIG. 20 according to the invention.

FIG. 38 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM decoder system that is built according to the invention.

FIG. 39 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an alternative TTCM decoder system that recycles a single SISO according to the invention.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of I,Q extraction that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of received I,Q mapping performed based on rate control according to the invention.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of metric calculation performed by one of the metric generators shown in the FIG. 38 and the FIG. 39.

FIG. 43 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of metric mapping functionality that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of SISO calculations and operations that are performed according to the invention.

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of alpha, beta, and extrinsic calculation, based on the trellis of the FIG. 23 of the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder of the FIG. 20 according to the invention.

FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of final output of decoding that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a variable code rate codec (encoder/decoder) servicing channels of various SNRs according to the invention.

FIG. 48 is an operational flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate coding method that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 49 is an operational flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate encoding method that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 50 is an operational flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate decoding method that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 51 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate encoding method that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 52 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate decoding method that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 53 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate coding method that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 54 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate coding method that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 55 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate coding method that is performed according to the invention.

FIG. 56 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate encoding method that is performed according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The variable code rate functionality of the invention may properly be described as being within the context of turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM) communication systems. TTCM coding may also be viewed as a hybrid combination of turbo coding and trellis coded modulated (TCM). Some of the particular embodiments of the invention are performed within communication systems that may more properly be categorized as being parallel concatenated turbo code modulated (PC-TCM) communication systems.

FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a number of communication systems context embodiments where certain aspects of the invention may be implemented.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a satellite communication system 100 that is built according to the invention. A satellite transmitter 110 includes a TTCM encoder 112. The TTCM encoder 112 is one of several possible embodiments that are described herein. The TTCM encoder 112 is operable to encode data that is to be transmitted by the satellite transmitter 110. The satellite transmitter 110 is communicatively coupled to a satellite dish 115 that is operable to communicate with a satellite 150. The satellite transmitter 110 may also be communicatively coupled to a wired network. This wired network may include any number of networks including the Internet, proprietary networks, and other wired networks. The satellite transmitter 110 employs the satellite dish 115 to communicate to the satellite 150 via a wireless communication channel. The satellite 150 is able to communicate with one or more satellite receivers, shown as a satellite receiver 120 (having a satellite dish 125), . . . , and a satellite receiver 130 (having a satellite dish 135). Each of the satellite receiver 120 and the satellite receiver 130 includes a TTCM decoder; specifically, the satellite receiver 120 includes a TTCM decoder 122, and the satellite receiver 130 includes a TTCM decoder 132. Each of the satellite receiver 120 and the satellite receiver 130 may also be communicatively coupled to a display. Again, specifically, the satellite receiver 120 may be communicatively coupled to a display 127, and the satellite receiver 130 may be communicatively coupled to a display 137. Various and further details will be provided below regarding the various embodiments in which the TTCM encoder 112, and the TTCM decoders 122 and 132 may be implemented.

Here, the communication to and from the satellite 150 may cooperatively be viewed as being a wireless communication channel, or each of the communication to and from the satellite 150 may be viewed as being two distinct wireless communication channels.

For example, the wireless communication “channel” may be viewed as not including multiple wireless hops in one embodiment. In other embodiments, the satellite 150 receives a signal received from the satellite transmitter 110 (via its satellite dish 115), amplifies it, and relays it to satellite receiver 120 (via its satellite dish 125); the satellite receiver 120 may also be implemented using terrestrial receivers such as satellite receivers, satellite based telephones, and satellite based Internet receivers, among other receiver types. In the case where the satellite 150 receives a signal received from the satellite transmitter 110 (via its satellite dish 115), amplifies it, and relays it, the satellite 150 may be viewed as being a “transponder.” In addition, other satellites may exist that perform both receiver and transmitter operations in cooperation with the satellite 150. In this case, each leg of an up-down transmission via the wireless communication channel would be considered separately.

In whichever embodiment, the satellite 150 communicates with the satellite receiver 120. The satellite receiver 120 may be viewed as being a mobile unit in certain embodiments (employing a local antenna); alternatively, the satellite receiver 120 may be viewed as being a satellite earth station that may be communicatively coupled to a wired network in a similar manner in which the satellite transmitter 110 may also be communicatively coupled to a wired network. In both situations, the satellite receiver 110 and the satellite receiver 120 are each operable to support the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 contained therein. The FIG. 1 shows one of the many embodiments where TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and TTCM decoding) may be performed according to any one or more of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a HDTV communication system 200 that is built according to the invention. An HDTV transmitter 220 is communicatively coupled to a tower 221. The HDTV transmitter 220, using its tower 221, transmits a signal to a local tower dish 212 via a wireless communication channel. The local tower dish 212 communicatively couples to an HDTV set top box receiver 210 via a coaxial cable. The HDTV set top box receiver 210 includes the functionality to receive the wireless transmitted signal that has been received by the local tower dish 212; this may include any transformation and/or down-converting as well to accommodate any up-converting that may have been performed before and during transmission of the signal from the HDTV transmitter 220 and its tower 221.

The HDTV set top box receiver 210 is also communicatively coupled to an HDTV display 230 that is able to display the demodulated and decoded wireless transmitted signals received by the HDTV set top box receiver 210 and its local tower dish 212. The HDTV transmitter 220 (via its tower 221) transmits a signal directly to the local tower dish 412 via the wireless communication channel in this embodiment. In alternative embodiments, the HDTV transmitter 220 may first receive a signal from a satellite 250, using a satellite earth station 222 that is communicatively coupled to the HDTV transmitter 220, and then transmit this received signal to the to the local tower dish 212 via the wireless communication channel. In this situation, the HDTV transmitter 220 operates as a relaying element to transfer a signal originally provided by the satellite 250 that is destined for the HDTV set top box receiver 210. For example, another satellite earth station may first transmit a signal to the satellite 250 from another location, and the satellite 250 may relay this signal to the satellite earth station 222 that is communicatively coupled to the HDTV transmitter 220. The HDTV transmitter 220 performs receiver functionality and then transmits its received signal to the local tower dish 212.

In even other embodiments, the HDTV transmitter 220 employs the satellite earth station 222 to communicate to the satellite 250 via a wireless communication channel. The satellite 250 is able to communicate with a local satellite dish 213; the local satellite dish 213 communicatively couples to the HDTV set top box receiver 210 via a coaxial cable. This path of transmission shows yet another communication path where the HDTV set top box receiver 210 may communicate with the HDTV transmitter 220.

In whichever embodiment and whichever signal path the HDTV transmitter 220 employs to communicate with the HDTV set top box receiver 210, the HDTV set top box receiver 210 is operable to receive communication transmissions from the HDTV transmitter 220.

The HDTV transmitter 220 includes an embodiment of the TTCM encoder 112 described above. Similarly, the HDTV set top box receiver 210 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 122 described above. Cooperatively, the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 form a TTCM codec according to the invention. The FIG. 2 shows yet another of the many embodiments where TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and TTCM decoding) may be performed according to any one or more of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a cellular communication system 300 that is built according to the invention. A mobile transmitter 310 includes a local antenna 315 communicatively coupled thereto. The mobile transmitter 310 may be any number of types of transmitters including a cellular telephone, a wireless pager unit, a mobile computer having transmit functionality, or any other type of mobile transmitter. The mobile transmitter 310 transmits a signal, using its local antenna 315, to a receiving tower 345 via a wireless communication channel. The receiving tower 345 is communicatively coupled to a base station receiver 340; the receiving tower 345 is operable to receive data transmission from the local antenna 315 of the mobile transmitter 310 that have been communicated via the wireless communication channel. The receiving tower 345 communicatively couples the received signal to the base station receiver 340.

The mobile transmitter 310 includes an embodiment of the TTCM encoder 112 described above. Similarly, the base station receiver 340 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 122 described above. Cooperatively, the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 form a TTCM codec according to the invention. The FIG. 3 shows yet another of the many embodiments where TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and TTCM decoding) may be performed according to any one or more of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating another embodiment of a cellular communication system 400 that is built according to the invention. From certain perspectives, the cellular communication system 400 of the FIG. 4 may be viewed as being the reverse transmission operation of the cellular communication system 300 of the FIG. 3. A base station transmitter 420 is communicatively coupled to a transmitting tower 425. The base station transmitter 420, using its transmitting tower 425, transmits a signal to a local antenna 435 via a wireless communication channel. A mobile receiver 430 includes the local antenna 435 communicatively coupled thereto. The local antenna 435 is communicatively coupled to a mobile receiver 430 so that the mobile receiver 430 may receive transmission from the transmitting tower 435 of the base station transmitter 420 that have been communicated via the wireless communication channel. The local antenna 435 communicatively couples the received signal to the mobile receiver 430. It is noted that the mobile receiver 430 may be any number of types of receivers including a cellular telephone, a wireless pager unit, a mobile computer having receive functionality, or any other type of mobile receiver.

The base station transmitter 420 includes an embodiment of the TTCM encoder 112 described above. Similarly, the mobile receiver 430 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 122 described above. Cooperatively, the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 form a TTCM codec according to the invention. The FIG. 4 shows yet another of the many embodiments where TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and TTCM decoding) may be performed according to any one or more of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a microwave communication system 500 that is built according to the invention. A transmitter 510 is communicatively coupled to a microwave tower 515. The transmitter 510, using its microwave tower 515, transmits a signal to a microwave tower 525 via a wireless communication channel. A receiver 520 is communicatively coupled to the microwave tower 525. The microwave tower 525 is able to receive transmissions from the microwave tower 515 that have been communicated via the wireless communication channel.

The transmitter 510 includes an embodiment of the TTCM encoder 112 described above. Similarly, the receiver 520 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 122 described above. Cooperatively, the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 form a TTCM codec according to a uni-directional communication implementation of the invention.

However, in a bi-directional communication implementation of the invention, the transmitter 510 also includes an embodiment of a TTCM decoder 522; the embodiment of the TTCM decoder 522 may be viewed as being duplicative of the TTCM decoder 122 within the receiver 520. The TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 522 together form a TTCM codec 511 within the transmitter 510. The receiver 520 also includes an embodiment of a TTCM encoder 512; the embodiment of the TTCM encoder 512 may be viewed as being duplicative of the TTCM encoder 112 within the transmitter 510. The TTCM decoder 122 and the TTCM encoder 512 together form a TTCM codec 521 within the receiver 520.

The embodiment of the invention described within the FIG. 5 shows an embodiment where a TTCM codec, built according to the invention, may be viewed as within a single device (such as the TTCM codec 511 within the transmitter 510 or the TTCM codec 521 within the receiver 520) or as being distributed across two separate devices, namely, the transmitter 510 and the receiver 520.

The FIG. 5 shows yet another of the many embodiments where TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and TTCM decoding) may be performed according to any one or more of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a point-to-point communication system 600 that is built according to the invention. A mobile unit 610 includes a local antenna 615 communicatively coupled thereto. The mobile unit 610, using its local antenna 615, transmits a signal to a local antenna 625 via a wireless communication channel. A mobile unit 620 includes the local antenna 625 communicatively coupled thereto. The mobile unit 620 may receive transmissions from the mobile unit 610 that have been communicated via the wireless communication channel.

The mobile unit 610 includes an embodiment of the TTCM encoder 112 described above. Similarly, the mobile unit 620 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 122 described above. Cooperatively, the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 form a TTCM codec according to a uni-directional communication implementation of the invention.

However, in a bi-directional communication implementation of the invention, the mobile unit 610 also includes an embodiment of a TTCM decoder 622; the embodiment of the TTCM decoder 622 may be viewed as being duplicative of the TTCM decoder 122 within the mobile unit 620. The TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 622 together form a TTCM codec 611 within the mobile unit 610. The mobile unit 620 also includes an embodiment of a TTCM encoder 612; the embodiment of the TTCM encoder 612 may be viewed as being duplicative of the TTCM encoder 112 within the mobile unit 610. The TTCM decoder 122 and the TTCM encoder 612 together form a TTCM codec 621 within the mobile unit 620.

The embodiment of the invention described within the FIG. 6 shows an embodiment where a TTCM codec, built according to the invention, may be viewed as within a single device (such as the TTCM codec 611 within the mobile unit 610 or the TTCM codec 621 within the mobile unit 610) or as being distributed across two separate devices, namely, the mobile unit 610 and the mobile unit 620.

The FIG. 6 shows yet another of the many embodiments where TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and TTCM decoding) may be performed according to any one or more of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a uni-directional TTCM communication system 700 that is built according to the invention. A transmitter 710 communicates with a receiver 720 via a uni-directional communication channel 799. The uni-directional communication channel 799 may be a wireline (or wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The wired media by which the uni-directional communication channel 799 may be implemented are varied, including coaxial cable, fiber-optic cabling, and copper cabling, among other types of “wiring.” Similarly, the wireless manners in which the uni-directional communication channel 799 may be implemented are varied, including satellite communication, cellular communication, microwave communication, and radio communication, among other types of wireless communication.

The transmitter 710 includes an embodiment of the TTCM encoder 112. Similarly, the receiver 720 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 122. Cooperatively, the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 form a TTCM codec according to the invention. The FIG. 7 shows yet another of the many embodiments where TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and TTCM decoding) may be performed according to any one or more of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a bi-directional TTCM communication system 800 that is built according to the invention. A transceiver 841 and a transceiver 842 are able to communicate with one another via a bi-directional communication channel 899. The bi-directional communication channel 899 may be a wireline (or wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The wired media by which the bi-directional communication channel 899 may be implemented are varied, including coaxial cable, fiber-optic cabling, and copper cabling, among other types of “wiring.” Similarly, the wireless manners in which the bi-directional communication channel 899 may be implemented are varied, including satellite communication, cellular communication, microwave communication, and radio communication, among other types of wireless communication.

The transceiver 841 includes a TTCM codec 811 that includes a TTCM encoder 112 and a TTCM decoder 822. Similarly, transceiver 842 includes a TTCM codec 821 that includes a TTCM decoder 122 and a TTCM encoder 812. The TTCM codec 811 and the TTCM codec 821 may be viewed as being duplicative of one another within the transceivers 841 and 842.

The FIG. 8 shows yet another of the many embodiments where TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and TTCM decoding) may be performed according to any one or more of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a one to many TTCM communication system 900 that is built according to the invention. A transmitter 910 is able to communicate, via broadcast in certain embodiments, with a number of receivers, shown as receivers 910, 920, . . . , and 940 via a uni-directional communication channel 999. The uni-directional communication channel 999 may be a wireline (or wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The wired media by which the bi-directional communication channel 999 may be implemented are varied, including coaxial cable, fiber-optic cabling, and copper cabling, among other types of “wiring.” Similarly, the wireless manners in which the bi-directional communication channel 999 may be implemented are varied, including satellite communication, cellular communication, microwave communication, and radio communication, among other types of wireless communication.

A distribution point 950 is employed within the one to many TTCM communication system 900 to provide the appropriate communication to the receivers 910, 920, . . . , and 940. In certain embodiments, the receivers 910, 920, . . . , and 940 each receive the same communication and individually discern which portion of the total communication is intended for themselves.

The transmitter 910 includes an embodiment of the TTCM encoder 112. Similarly, each of the receivers 910, 920, . . . , and 940 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder; specifically, the receiver 920 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 122; the receiver 930 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 932; and the receiver 940 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 942. Cooperatively, the TTCM encoder 112 and each of the TTCM decoders 122, 932, . . . , and 942 form TTCM codecs according to the invention. The FIG. 9 shows yet another of the many embodiments where TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and TTCM decoding) may be performed according to any one or more of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a satellite receiver set-top box system 1000 that is built according to the invention. The satellite receiver set-top box system 1000 includes an advanced modulation satellite receiver 1010 that is implemented in an all digital architecture. The satellite receiver set-top box system 1000 includes a satellite tuner 1002 that receives a signal via the L-band. The satellite tuner 1002 extracts I,Q (in-phase and quadrature) components from a signal received from the L-band and provides them to the advanced modulation satellite receiver 1010. The advanced modulation satellite receiver 1010 includes an embodiment of the TTCM decoder 112. The advanced modulation satellite receiver 1010 communicatively couples to an HDTV MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Expert Group) transport de-mux, audio/video decoder and display engine 1020. Both the advanced modulation satellite receiver 1010 and the HDTV MPEG-2 transport de-mux, audio/video decoder and display engine 1020 communicatively couple to a host central processing unit (CPU) 1030. The HDTV MPEG-2 transport de-mux, audio/video decoder and display engine 1020 also communicatively couples to a memory module 1032 and a conditional access functional block 1034. The HDTV MPEG-2 transport de-mux, audio/video decoder and display engine 1020 provides HD video and audio output that may be provided to an HDTV display.

The advanced modulation satellite receiver 1010 is a single-chip digital satellite receiver supporting the TTCM decoder 122 and variable code rate operation. Several of the many embodiments of the variable code rate operation are described in even more detail below. Multiple modulations (constellations and mappings) are supported with iteratively (turbo) decoded error correction coding within the TTCM decoder 122. The advanced modulation satellite receiver 1010 is operable to receive communication provided to it from a transmitter device that includes a TTCM encoder according to the invention.

It is noted that each of the various embodiments described above in which TTCM coding (TTCM encoding and/or TTCM decoding) is performed is operable to support variable code rate coding according to the invention. As will be described in the various embodiments below, this variable code rate functionality may include rotating through a number of various modulations (of different constellations) and mapping for those various modulations.

FIG. 11 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM communication system 1100 that is built according to the invention. The TTCM communication system 1100 includes a transmitter 1110 and a receiver 1120 that are communicatively coupled to one another via a communication channel that introduces Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) to the signal. The communication channel may be wireline or wireless according to the invention. The AWGN communication channel may be viewed as being a relatively noisy communication channel.

The transmitter 1110 includes a TTCM encoder 112 that encodes one or more information symbols and then modulates those encoded symbols according to a constellation and a mapping. The transmitter 1110 then prepares this signal for transmission across the communication channel. At the other end of the communication channel, the receiver 1120 includes a TTCM decoder 122 that receives and estimates the encoded symbols that have been transmitted across the communication channel. Further details of the operation of the various functional blocks contained within the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 are described in more detail below.

In addition, a rate control sequencer 1150 provides one or more rate controls to the turbo encoder 1111 and the symbol mapper 1121 of the TTCM encoder 112 and to the TTCM decoder 122. This rate control sequencer 1150 provides rate control sequences (which may include as few as one rate control (RC) and as many as several RCs). Each RC includes one or more modulations (constellations and mappings). Each modulation provides a bandwidth efficiency that may be viewed as being a total number of information bits per symbol that is encoded; a number of redundancy bits contained therein. Each of the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 is operable to cycle through the rate control sequence at their respective locations when performing encoding and decoding of symbols, respectively.

Generally speaking within the TTCM encoder 112, the turbo encoder 1111 performs the symbol encoding and the symbol mapper 1121 maps those encoded symbols to the appropriate modulation according to the rate control sequence provided by the rate control sequencer 1150. Similarly, generally speaking within the TTCM decoder 122, the TTCM decoder 122 performs calculations that are employed to perform decoding of the received symbols according to the rate control sequence provided by the rate control sequencer 1150. There are a whole host of various embodiments in which various modulations (having various modulations and various mappings), and various periodic sequencing of rate control sequence may be used to perform the encoding and decoding of data using the TTCM techniques described herein. In some embodiments, the rate control sequence is adaptively changed during operation to provide for improved performance. In other embodiments, predetermined rate control sequences are employed.

In adaptive embodiments, certain operating conditions may be employed, such as a measurement of the communication channel's SNR, to direct the changing of the rate control sequence or rate control sequences to be used by both the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122. It is understood that either one or both of the TTCM encoder 112 and the TTCM decoder 122 may perform the measurement of such operating conditions and direct the TTCM communication system 1100 to change rate control sequences. In some embodiments, such as a uni-directional communication system embodiment, it may make more sense for the transmitter to perform such measurement and direction, whereas within bi-directional communication system embodiments, either of the transceivers may provide such functionality. The particular implementation may be left to one who implements the invention in a particular application. There exist several options that may be employed to adaptively/dynamically change the rate control sequence.

For example, one embodiment operates such that the transmitter is a master to the receiver (which operates as a slave). The transmitter determines some operational parameter, such as the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the AWGN communication channel (or some other parameter including, but not limited to, an operating condition of the communication system, the system's configuration, and/or the available resources of the communication system), and then the transmitter directs the rate control sequencer 1150 so that both the transmitter and the receiver change to a new rate control sequence synchronously.

In another embodiment, the transmitter is a slave to the receiver (which operates as a master). The receiver determines some operational parameter, such as the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the AWGN communication channel (or some other parameter including, but not limited to, an operating condition of the communication system, the system's configuration, and/or the available resources of the communication system), and then the receiver directs the rate control sequencer 1150 so that both the transmitter and the receiver change to a new rate control sequence synchronously.

In even other embodiments, the transmitter and the receiver operate cooperatively to perform any changing to a new rate control sequence.

It is also understood that a variety of means of modulation, transmission, receipt, and demodulation may be performed to generate the analog signals to be transmitted across the communication channel without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. Each and any such means may be practiced according to the invention while performing the TTCM encoding/decoding described herein.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a single interleaver embodiment of the turbo encoder 1111 of the FIG. 11. The variable code rate functionality described herein may be performed within this single interleaver embodiment of the turbo encoder 1111. Input bits are provided simultaneously to a top path and a bottom path. The top path includes a top constituent trellis encoder, and the bottom path includes a bottom interleaver communicatively coupled to a bottom constituent trellis encode. A variety of interleaves may be performed as selected for the particular application within the bottom interleaver. The outputs from the top and bottom paths are provided to a multiplexor (MUX) whose selection is provided by a clock signal that is clocked at 1/2 the rate at which the input bits are provided to the top and bottom paths. This way, the output of the MUX will alternatively select the outputs from the top and bottom paths.

These output bits are then output to a puncturing functional block. In certain embodiments, no puncturing is performed on the bits output from the MUX; they are all simply passed as output from the puncturing functional block. However, in other embodiments, puncturing is performed according to the rate control sequence provided by the rate control sequencer 1150. A variety of encoded symbols may then be then generated according to the outputs from the top and bottom paths; the bottom path being an interleaved path. These encoded symbols are then passed to the symbol mapper according to the invention where the symbols are mapped according to the appropriate modulation (constellation and mapping) as governed by the rate control sequence provided by the rate control sequencer 1150. The single interleaver embodiment of the turbo encoder 1111 shows just one of the many embodiments in which TTCM encoding may be performed. Other turbo encoding embodiments are also envisioned within the scope and spirit of the invention to support the variable code rate functionality described herein.

It is noted that the interleaver within the FIG. 12 may be implemented such that it operates to correspond the order of the input bits with the order in which the encoded symbols are output from this embodiment of the turbo encoder. That is to say, the first output, encoded symbol corresponds to the first group of input bits (or first input symbol); the second output, encoded symbol corresponds to the second group of input bits (or second input symbol). Alternatively, the interleaver may be implemented such that corresponding the order of the input bits (or symbols) need not necessarily correspond to the output order of the encoded symbols to the input order of the groups of input bits (or input symbols).

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a dual interleaver embodiment of the turbo encoder 1111 of the FIG. 11. Similar to the embodiment of the FIG. 12, the variable code rate functionality described herein may be performed within this dual interleaver embodiment of the turbo encoder 1111. Input bits are provided simultaneously to a top path and a bottom path. The top path includes a top interleaver communicatively coupled to a top constituent trellis encoder, and the bottom path includes a bottom interleaver communicatively coupled to a bottom constituent trellis encoder.

It is also noted here (similar to FIG. 12) that the interleavers within the FIG. 13 may be implemented such that they operate to correspond the order of the input bits with the order in which the encoded symbols are output from this embodiment of the turbo encoder. That is to say, the first output, encoded symbol corresponds to the first group of input bits (or first input symbol); the second output, encoded symbol corresponds to the second group of input bits (or second input symbol). Alternatively, the interleaver may be implemented such that corresponding the order of the input bits (or symbols) need not necessarily correspond to the output order of the encoded symbols to the input order of the groups of input bits (or input symbols).

The outputs from the top and bottom paths are provided to a multiplexor (MUX) whose selection is provided by a clock signal that is clocked at 1/2 the rate at which the input bits are provided to the top and bottom paths. This way, the output of the MUX will alternatively select the outputs from the top and bottom paths.

As with the embodiment described above in the FIG. 12 for the interleaving performed by the bottom interleaver, a variety of interleaves may be performed as selected for the particular application. The following example shows one embodiment of how the interleaving may be performed for the top interleaver and the bottom interleaver.

For each of the top interleaver and the bottom interleaver, we let π₀ and π₁ be the interleaves for each bit within the two bit input symbol, i₀i₁. According to the FIG. 13, we employ the following modified interleavers (Top interleaver and Bottom interleaver) within the encoding process; these modified interleavers are each variants of the interleaver, π_(l), as defined below. There are, in effect, two interleaves that are functionally performed within the Top interleaver, and two interleaves are functionally performed within the Bottom interleaver. A total of four interleaves are performed by the Top interleaver and Bottom interleaver in this embodiment. These interleaves are performed independently for each bit within the two bit input symbol, i₀i₁. The decoding process, described in more detail below, may employ the modified interleaving/de-interleaving shown here during initialization; however, when performing actual decoding of a received symbol's bits, it only employs the non-modified interleaver, π_(l), and the de-interleaver, π_(l) ⁻¹. Within this dual interleaver embodiment of the turbo encoder 1111, the modified interleaving is performed as follows:

Top interleaver=i for i mod 2=0 (for even positions)

Top interleaver=π_(l) ⁻¹(i) for i mod 2=1 (for odd positions)

Bottom interleaver=π_(l) (i) for i mod 2=0

Bottom interleaver=i for i mod 2=1

Where, l=0,1 for two bit input symbol, i₀i₁.

This modified interleaving is performed to ensure the following: when we input a symbol sequence, S₁S₂S₃S₄, then we want encoded corresponding output from those symbols to be in the same order, namely, the encoded output for S₁, followed by the encoded output for S₂, followed by the encoded output for S₃, and finally followed by the encoded output for S₄. The output encoded symbol sequence, shown as BTBT, will maintain this sequential order (based on the order of the input symbols) because of the modified interleaving performed herein.

In other words, the input symbols (or input bits) come into the encoder according to a particular sequence, and the encoded symbols that are output from the TTCM encoder leave according to that same sequence.

Again, this interleaving shows just one example of how interleaving may be performed according to the invention. Other interleaves may also be designed for a particular application. This particular interleaving is used to illustrate the functionality of the invention in several embodiments of the invention in the various Figures and written description.

These output bits, after having undergone interleaving and encoding, are then output to a puncturing functional block. In certain embodiments, no puncturing is performed on the bits output from the MUX. However, in other embodiments, puncturing is performed according to the rate control sequence provided by the rate control sequencer 1150. A variety of encoded symbols may then be generated according to the outputs from the top and bottom paths. These encoded symbols are then passed to the symbol mapper according to the invention where the symbols are mapped according to the appropriate modulation (constellation and mapping) as governed by the rate control sequence provided by the rate control sequencer 1150. The dual interleaver embodiment of the turbo encoder 1111 shows yet another of the many embodiments in which TTCM encoding may be performed. It is noted that other turbo encoding embodiments are also envisioned within the scope and spirit of the invention to support the variable code rate functionality described herein.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a systematic encoder 1400 that is built according to the invention. In general terms, the systematic encoder 1400 shows an encoder that encodes “a” input bits (shown as i₀, i₁, . . . , and i_((a-1))). The systematic encoder 1400 is a rate a/b encoder where “a” input bits are provided and “b” output bits are output. The “b” output bits include “x” number of redundancy bits (shown as c_(x), c_((x-1)), . . . , and c₀) that are coded as a function of one or more of the “a” input bits as well as each of the “a” input bits themselves. A systematic encoder may be viewed as being an encoder where the input bits are explicitly represented and available in the output of the encoder. In addition, one or more uncoded bits u may be provided as output of the encoder without having undergone any encoding at all. It is noted that sum of the total number of coded bits “x” and the “a” input bits is equal to the number of output bits “b” in this rate a/b encoder.

It is also noted that one or both of the top constituent trellis encoder and the bottom constituent trellis encoder in the FIG. 12 or 13 may be implemented using the systematic encoder 1400 of the FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a non-systematic encoder 1500 that is built according to the invention. In general terms, the non-systematic encoder 1500 shows an encoder that encodes “a” input bits (shown as i₀, i₁, . . . , and i_((a-1))) to provide “b” output bits (shown as c_((b-1)), c_((b-2)), . . . , and c₀). A non-systematic encoder may be viewed as being an encoder where the input bits are not explicitly represented and available in the output of the encoder. In addition, one or more uncoded bits u may be provided as output of the encoder without having undergone any encoding at all. While the invention envisions employing either systematic or non-systematic encoding, a non-systematic encoder is employed to illustrate the invention's variable code rate functionality in many of the various Figures and description. It will be understood that systematic encoding may also be employed to perform the various aspects of the invention as well.

It is also noted that one or both of the top constituent trellis encoder and the bottom constituent trellis encoder in the FIG. 12 or 13 may be implemented using the non-systematic encoder 1500 of the FIG. 15.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a non-systematic encoder using puncturing and rate control sequencer to support multiple encoders 1600 according to the invention. Here, a single non-systematic encoder is implemented to perform the functionality of multiple encoders. A single hardware implementation may be used to support the functionality of each of a number of encoders. We illustrate the non-systematic encoder as being a rate a/b non-systematic encoder that that encodes “a” input bits (shown as i₀, i₁, . . . , and i_((a-1))) to provide “b” output bits (shown as c_((b-1)), c_((b-2)), . . . , and c₀). As mentioned above, one or more uncoded bits may also be used. Each of the rate control sequences provided by the rate control sequencer 1150 may select none, some, or all of the “a” input bits and generate none, some, or all of the “b” output bits as well as selecting none, some, or all of a number of available uncoded bits. Puncturing is performed on the output bits of the encoder to generate the various options of encoded symbols that include encoded bits and/or uncoded bits.

To show the generic applicability of the variable code rate functionality of the invention, the rate a/b non-systematic encoder cycles through a number of rate controls (that constitute a rate control sequence—shown as a RC A1, a RC A2, . . . , and a RC Az). Each of the RCs has a particular bandwidth efficiency. Cooperatively, the bandwidth efficiencies of the individual RCs (RC A1, RC A2, . . . , and RC Az) define the rate control sequence provide an average bandwidth efficiency across the entire rate control sequence. These RCs are shown generically to illustrate the wide applicability of the variable code rate functionality of the invention.

The rate control sequencer 1150 may cycle through a predetermined rate control sequence; it may adaptively select one or more new rate control sequences based on operating conditions such as a communication channel's SNR, bandwidth requirements based on various user applications, or according to some other consideration as well.

The rate control sequence as illustrated within the example embodiment shown in the FIG. 16 may be described as follows:

Within the encoder as implemented according to RC A1, two information bits (i₀ and i₁) and one uncoded bit u are input to the encoder. The output of the encoder punctures all of the coded bits except for c₂ and c₁, and the uncoded bit u; these remaining bits are then used to generate a 3 bit symbol that will be mapped according to a 3 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by RC A1.

Within the encoder as implemented according to RC A2, one information bits (i₁) is input to the encoder. The output of the encoder punctures all of the coded bits except for c₄, c₃, . . . c₀; these remaining bits are then used to generate a 5 bit symbol that will be mapped according to a 5 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by RC A2.

Within the encoder as implemented according to RC Az, four information bits (i₀, i₁, i₂, i₃) and one uncoded bit u are input to the encoder. The output of the encoder punctures all of the coded bits except for c₃, c₂, c₁, c₀, and the uncoded bit u; these remaining bits and the uncoded bit are then used to generate a 5 bit symbol that will be mapped according to a 5 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by RC Az. While the RC A2 and RC Az both employ 5 bit symbols, they may nevertheless employ different modulations (different constellations and different mappings) without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The rate a/b non-systematic encoder may then cycle through the rate control sequence defined by the (RC A1, RC A2, . . . , and RC Az) a predetermined number of times within a data frame. Alternatively, the rate a/b non-systematic encoder may adaptively select a new rate control sequence based on operating conditions of the communication system in which the rate a/b non-systematic encoder is implemented. Each of the individual RCs may be viewed as being functionality supported by distinct encoders.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of periodic sequencing of a non-systematic encoder using puncturing and rate control sequencer 1700 according to the invention. In this example to show the periodic sequencing, a rate 4/6 non-systematic encoder is employed. The rate control sequence in this embodiment includes the RCs (RC A1, RC A2, RC A2, RC A1, and RC Az) having a period of 5 RCs.

The available input of this exemplary rate 4/6 non-systematic encoder is (i₀, i₁, i₂, i₃) and the uncoded bit, and the available output is (c₅, c₄, c₃, c₂, c₁, c₀) as well as the uncoded bit. Puncturing is performed to select a predetermined sub-set of all of the available input and output bits of the rate 4/6 non-systematic encoder. The input cycles through the period of 5 RCs described above. The inputs bits cycle through the following sequence according to this particular period:

RC A1: ui₀i₁

RC A1: ui₀i₁

RC A2: 0i₁

RC A2: 0i₁

RC Az: ui₀i₁i₂i₃

The output bits of this period of RCs is as follows:

RC A1: uc₂c₁

RC A1: uc₂c₁

RC A2: c₄c₃c₂c₁c₀

RC A2: c₄c₃c₂C₁C₀

RC Az: uc₃c₂c₁c₀

Clearly, additional rate control sequences that include different RCs may also be employed to perform and support the functionality described herein. The generic embodiment of FIG. 17 shows how different constellations (3 bit symbols and 5 bit symbols in this example) may be used within a single rate control sequence. This means that various modulations, each having different numbers of total constellation points, may be used in a single rate control sequence.

In another embodiment of the invention, the encoder of the FIG. 17 is implemented such that the remaining bits, output from the encoder, may be groups to support multiple modulations. For example, for one of the groups of output bits for one of the RCs, the remaining output bits c₄c₃ are used for one modulation (such as a QPSK or APSK type constellation and mapping that employs 2 bits), and the other bits are c₂c₁c₀ are used for another modulation (such as an 8 PSK type constellation and mapping that employs 3 bits). Other variations may also be employed as well, such as those that operate using 6 available encoded bits. In such a possible embodiment, 4 of the bits may be used for one modulation (such as a 16 QAM or 16 APSK type constellation and mapping that employs 4 bits), and the other 2 bits may be used for another modulation (such as a QPSK or APSK type constellation and mapping that employs 2 bits).

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a generic embodiment of variable puncturing, constellations, and mapping using a single encoder 1800 according to the invention. The FIG. 18 particularly shows how encoder output bits are punctured, and how the remaining bits are associated with one or more particular constellations and how each of those constellations may have a unique mapping. The control of the puncturing, the constellation, and the mapping are all governed by the rate control sequencer 1150. Again, the rate control sequencer 1150 may cycle through a predetermined rate control sequence; it may adaptively select one or more new rate control sequence based on operating conditions such as a communication channel's SNR, bandwidth requirements based on various user applications, or according to some other consideration as well.

The available encoder output bits are provided to a functional block that may employ one or more of a number of multiple puncturing options. These puncturing options are shown generically as puncturing #1, puncturing #2, . . . , and puncturing #w. Each of these puncturing options is associated with one or more constellations (shown as constellation #1, constellation #2, . . . , and constellation #x). For example, the output bits remaining after having performed the puncturing #1 are then associated with the constellation #1. The output bits remaining after having performed the puncturing #2 may then be associated with either the constellation #1 or the constellation #x. The output bits remaining after having performed the puncturing #w are then associated with the constellation #2.

Each constellation is associated with one or more mappings, shown as mapping #1, mapping #2, . . . mapping #y. As an example, the constellation #1 is associated with more than one mapping, namely, mapping #1, mapping #2, and mapping #y. The other constellations may also be associated with various mappings as well. The encoding process includes performing encoding, puncturing, selection of a modulation (constellation and mapping).

As mentioned above, a number of types of encoders may be employed according to the invention, and the following examples of encoders show just some of the possible encoder types that may be used.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a rate 1/2 recursive convolutional encoder with non-systematic output 1900 that is built according to the invention. The rate is 1/2 as there is one input information bit and two output encoded bits. The encoder receives a single input bit and generates two encoded bits (c₁, c₀). The recursive operation of the encoder in the FIG. 19 may be viewed as follows. The input bit is selectively summed with delayed versions of itself to generate the two encoded bits.

This encoder circuit represents one way to encode an input bit to generate two encoded bits. Clearly, the invention envisions other embodiments and types of encoders as well. This particular example of the rate 1/2 recursive convolutional encoder with non-systematic output 1900 is used to illustrate the scalability and extendibility of the invention across a number of encoding schemes. This rate 1/2 recursive convolutional encoder with non-systematic output 1900 will be used as one building block to generate a rate 2/5 encoder as will be described below in FIG. 20.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000 that is built according to the invention. Two bits are provided at a time as an input symbol (having input bits i₁i₀) to the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000. These two bits may be provided to the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000 serially, or alternatively, in a parallel manner. The input of the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000 includes both of these input bits. One of the bits of the input symbol is provided as output of the encoder, i₀, but because both input bits i₁i₀ are not available in the form in which they are provided, the encoder may be viewed as a non-systematic encoder. In certain situations as will be seen below, an uncoded bit may also be employed during the encoding.

The two binary consecutive inputs that are provided to the encoder may be viewed as (i₀,i₁). These two binary consecutive inputs are provided to the rate 1/2 encoder of the FIG. 19 above. Two consecutive cycles are employed, by providing inputs i₀ (first) and then i₁ (second), to generate the following outputs of the rate 1/2 encoder ((c_(0,1), c_(1,0)) and (c_(1,1), c_(1,0))). Three of these values are selected and are set to be the coded bits (c_(1,1)=c₂, c_(1,0)=c₁, c_(0,1)=c₀). The coded output bit c₃ is taken as the sum of the two binary consecutive inputs, namely i₀ and i₁. The final output coded bit c₄ is taken as the second of the two binary consecutive inputs, namely i₀. This particular encoder is used to perform illustration of one example of the invention's operation within many of the embodiments described below.

The encoding/decoding of bits put into the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000 may be described mathematically as follows. We begin by establishing the following notation.

1. S^(n)(m,i₀,i₁): the next state after inputting the symbol, i₀,i₁, to the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000 with the current state m.

2. S^(p)(m,i₀,i₁): the previous state after inputting the symbol, i₀,i₁, to the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000 with the current state m.

3. c^(n)(m,i₀,i₁): the output of a selected trellis used to perform the encoding/decoding by inputting the symbol, i₀,i₁, to the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000 with the current state m.

4. c^(p)(m,i₀,i₁): the output of a selected trellis used to perform the encoding/decoding by inputting the symbol, i₀,i₁, to the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000 with the previous state m.

5. app denotes using “a priori” probability. For example, app_(0,50)(1) is the app of i₀=1 for the 50^(th) symbol in a frame of data.

6. met denotes using metric of the index provided within the parentheses.

It is noted that any selected trellis may be employed to do this encoding. One particular embodiment of a trellis is described in detail below in the FIG. 23, yet other trellises could similarly be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Within many of the following notations, the use of Greek letter and English equivalent is understood as being the same element. For example, alpha=α; alpha_(—)0=α₀; beta=β; beta_(—)0=β₀; and so on.

The decoding process employs forward metrics (alphas) and backward metrics (betas), and extrinsic values according to the trellis employed. Each of these alphas, beta, and extrinsics are calculated as shown in the generic manner described below. α_(k)(s)=min*_((i) ₀ _(i) _(1)=0, . . . , 3) [α_(k−1)(S ^(p)(s,i ₀ ,i ₁))+app_(0,k−1)(i ₀)+app_(1,k−1)(i ₁)+met_(1,k−1)(c ^(p)(s,i ₀ ,i ₁))] β_(k)(s)=min*_((i) ₀ _(i) _(1)=0, . . . , 3) [β_(k+1)(S ^(n)(s,i ₀ ,i ₁))+app_(0,k+1)(i ₀)+app_(1,k+1)(i ₁)+met_(1,k+1)(c ^(n)(s,i ₀ ,i ₁))]

It is noted that the variable “s” identifies the trellis state that varies from 0=000, 1=001, . . . , to 7=111.

We then calculate the following intermediate variables, E_(m)(s,i) and E_(l)(s,i), before calculating the extrinsic values (ext) that will be used to perform the final decoding. E ₀(s,i)=min*_(j=0,1)(met_(1,k)(c ^(n)(s,i,j))+β_(k)(S ^(n)(s,i,j))+app_(1,k)(j)) ext_(0,k)(i)=min*_(s=0, . . . , 7) {α_(k)(s)+E ₀(s,i)}

We also calculate the following ext. E ₁(s,i)=min*_(j=0,1)(met_(1,k)(c ^(n)(s,j,i))+β_(k)(S ^(n)(s,j,i))+app_(0,k)(j)) ext_(1,k)(i)=min*_(s=0, . . . , 7) {α_(k)(s)+E ₁(s,i)}

It is noted that the value of i (i=0 or i=1) is the possible value for the denoted decoded bit. After performing these above calculations, we then use the following comparisons to make estimates of the input bits (i_(k,m), i_(k,l)). î _(0,k)=0, if we find that ext_(0,k)(1)+app_(0,k)(1)>ext_(0,k)(0)+app_(0,k)(0) î _(0,k)=1, if we find that ext_(0,k)(1)+app_(0,k)(1)<ext_(0,k)(0)+app_(0,k)(0) î _(1,k)=0, if we find that ext_(1,k)(1)+app_(1,k)(1)>ext_(1,k)(0)+app_(1,k)(0) î _(1,k)=1, if we find that ext_(1,k)(1)+app_(1,k)(1)>ext_(0,k)(0)+app_(1,k)(0)

These equations show the generic applicability of how to perform decoding of encoded bits according to one embodiment of the invention. Specific examples are also shown below of how the encoding/decoding may be performed according to the invention while supporting variable code rate functionality in accordance with the invention. It is also noted, however, that other encoders may also be employed (besides the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000) without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a rate 2/5 systematic prototype encoder 2100 that is built according to the invention. In general terms, the rate 2/5 systematic prototype encoder 2100 encodes “2” input bits (shown as i₀ and i₁) and generates “3” redundancy output bits (shown as c₂, c₁, c₀) as well as explicitly providing the input bits (i₀ and i₁). In addition, one or more uncoded bits u may be provided as output of the encoder without having undergone any encoding at all. The rate 2/5 systematic prototype encoder 2100 may be viewed as being just one of many possible embodiments of the rate a/b systematic prototype encoder 1400 of the FIG. 14. It is also noted that the total rate of the rate 2/5 systematic prototype encoder 2100 may be modified when employing an uncoded bit; a rate of 3/6 may be achieved when employing both input bits (i₀ and i₁) and the uncoded bit as input and when performing no puncturing of any bits at all.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder 2000 of the FIG. 20 that is built according to the invention. In general terms, the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder 2000 encodes “2” input bits (shown as i₀ and i₁) and generates “5” coded output bits (shown as c₄, c₃, c₂, c₁, c₀). In addition, one or more uncoded bits u may be provided as output of the encoder without having undergone any encoding at all. This illustration may be viewed as being a prototype encoder from which many various types of encoding may be performed. The rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder 2000 may be viewed as being just one of many possible embodiments of the rate a/b non-systematic prototype encoder 1500 of the FIG. 15. It is also noted that the total rate of the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder 2200 may be modified when employing an uncoded bit; a rate of 3/6 may be achieved when employing the “2” input bits (shown as i₀ and i₁) and the uncoded bit and when performing no puncturing of any bits at all.

FIG. 23 is a trellis diagram of a trellis 2300 employed by the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder 2000 of the FIG. 20 that is built according to the invention. It is noted that the trellis 2300 is selected offline and employed for all of the encoding/decoding in this particular embodiment. The trellis 2300 is an 8 state (3 register) trellis whose input/output trellis transfer function is shown within the FIG. 23. Each of the inputs is shown in symbol form of the 4 possible inputs: 0 is for i₀i₁=00, 1 is for i₀i₁=01, 2 is for i₀i₁=10, and 3 is for i₀i₁=11. The outputs are shown in octal; however, only the first 5 bits are employed in this embodiment. Again, the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder 2000 of the FIG. 20 employs the trellis 2300, so only five coded output bits are available. It is noted that all of the metrics according to the trellis 2300 may be represented by 16 unique metrics. Although there are 5 available bits as the output of the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder 2000, when considering the number of options as being 2⁵=32, it is seen that this particular trellis design may be represented with 16 distinct metrics. Moreover, an efficient hardware implementation allows these 16 distinct metrics to be represented with 8 distinct metric values.

The 6^(th) bit is simply not existent in the rate 2/5 encoder described here; the outputs may be viewed, in octal form, as being xc₄c₃c₂c₁c₀, where x represents the unused bit. It is noted, however, that some other embodiments (say, in a rate 2/6 encoder) may employ all 6 output bits when performing a rate 2/6 encoder.

For example, following the operation and function of the trellis, starting from the state of 0=000, the following transitions may be achieved:

When the encoder is in the state 0=000, and when the input i₀i₁=00=0, then the state of the encoder will transition to state 0=000, and the output will be xc₄c₃c₂c₁c₀=x00000=0. When the encoder is in the state 0=000, and when the input i₀i₁=01=1, then the state of the encoder will transition to state 2=010, and the output will be xc₄c₃c₂c₁c₀=x01100=14. When the encoder is in the state 0=000, and when the input i₀i₁=10=2, then the state of the encoder will transition to state 4=100, and the output will be xc₄c₃c₂c₁c₀=x11001=31. When the encoder is in the state 0=000, and when the input i₀i₁=11=3, then the state of the encoder will transition to state 6=110, and the output will be xc₄c₃c₂c₁c₀=x10101=25.

The transitions from other initial states may similarly be followed according to the trellis 2300. It is here noted that the trellis 2300 represents one such trellis that may be employed to perform TTCM encoding. Other trellises may similarly be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The encoding employs this trellis when performing each of the various rate control sequences provided by the rate control sequencer 1150 to the rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder 2000. As will be seen below as well, this same trellis 2300 is also employed to performing decoding of data for each of the various rate control sequences provided by the rate control sequencer 1150.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating the functional operation of the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 using puncturing and rate control sequencer 1150 to support multiple encoders performing various rate controls according to the invention. Here, the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 is implemented to perform the functionality of multiple encoders. Puncturing is performed on the output bits of the encoder to generate the various options of encoded symbols that include encoded bits and/or uncoded bits. The variable code rate functionality of the invention, shown in the context of the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 cycles through a number of rate controls (that constitute a rate control sequence—shown as a RC 0, a RC 9, and RC 1) in the FIG. 24. Each of these RCs has a particular bandwidth efficiency. Cooperatively, the bandwidth efficiencies of the individual RCs (RC 0, a RC 9, and RC 1) define the rate control sequence provide an average bandwidth efficiency across this entire rate control sequence.

The rate control sequencer 1150 may cycle through a predetermined rate control sequence; it may adaptively select one or more new rate control sequences based on operating conditions such as a communication channel's SNR, bandwidth requirements based on various user applications, or according to some other consideration as well.

The rate control sequence as illustrated within the example embodiment shown in the FIG. 24 may be described as follows:

Within the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 as implemented according to RC 0, a rate 2/3 encoder is achieved. Two information bits (i₀ and i₁) are input to the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000. The output of encoding punctures all of the coded bits except for c₃c₂c₁; these remaining bits are then used to generate a 3 bit symbol that will be mapped according to a 3 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by RC 0.

Within the encoder as implemented according to RC 9, a rate 1/3 encoder is achieved. One information bits (i₁) is input to the encoder. The output of the encoder punctures all of the coded bits except for c₂c₁c₀; these remaining bits are then used to generate a 3 bit symbol that will be mapped according to a 3 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by RC 9.

Within the encoder as implemented according to RC 1, a rate 3/3 encoder is achieved. Two information bits (i₀ and i₁) and one uncoded bit u are input to the encoder. The output of the encoder punctures all of the coded bits except for c₄c₃ and the uncoded bit u; these remaining bits and the uncoded bit (uc₄c₃) are then used to generate a 3 bit symbol that will be mapped according to a 3 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by RC A1.

The non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 may then cycle through the rate control sequence defined by the (RC 0, a RC 9, and RC 1) a predetermined number of times within a data frame. Alternatively, the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 may adaptively select a new rate control sequence based on operating conditions of the communication system in which the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 is implemented. Each of the individual RCs may be viewed as being functionality supported by distinct encoders, yet a single device is operable to support all of these encoders according to the variable code rate functionality described herein. The above-referenced comments are also applicable to the cases presented below in the FIGS. 25 and 26.

FIG. 25 shows additional rate controls supported by the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 of the FIG. 20. Within the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 as implemented according to RCs 7,A&D, a rate 1/2 encoder is achieved. One information bit (i₁) is input to the non-systematic rate 2/5 sequencer 2000. The output of encoding punctures all of the coded bits except for c₂c₁; these remaining bits are then used to generate a 2 bit symbol that will be mapped according to the appropriate 2 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by one of the RCs 7,A&D.

Within the encoder as implemented according to RC 8, a rate 0/2 encoder is achieved. No information bits are input to the encoder. The output of the encoder punctures all of the coded bits except for c₂c₀; these remaining bits are then used to generate a 2 bit symbol that will be mapped according to a 2 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by RC 8.

Within the encoder as implemented according to RCs 2,3,6,C,E&F, a rate 2/2 encoder is achieved. Two information bits (i₀ and i₁) are input to the encoder. The output of the encoder punctures all of the coded bits except for c₄c₃; these remaining bits (c₄c₃) are then used to generate a 2 bit symbol that will be mapped according to the appropriate 2 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by one of the RCs 2,3,6,C,E&F.

FIG. 26 shows yet additional rate controls supported by the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 of the FIG. 20. Within the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 as implemented according to RCs 4&B, a rate 3/4 encoder is achieved. Two information bits (i₀ and i₁) and one uncoded bit u are input to the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000. The output of encoding punctures all of the coded bits except for c₃c₂c₁ and the uncoded bit u, leaving uc₃c₂c₁; these remaining bits are then used to generate a 4 bit symbol that will be mapped according to the appropriate 4 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined one of the RCs 4&B.

Within the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 as implemented according to RC G, a rate 2/4 encoder is achieved. Two information bits (i₀ and i₁) are input to the non-systematic rate 2/5 sequencer 2000. The output of encoding punctures all of the coded bits except for c₃c₂c₁c₀; these remaining bits are then used to generate a 4 bit symbol that will be mapped according to a 4 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by RC G.

Within the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 as implemented according to RC 5, a rate 2/4 encoder is achieved. One information bit (i₁) and one uncoded bit u are input to the non-systematic rate 2/5 sequencer 2000. The output of encoding punctures all of the coded bits except for c₂c₁c₀ and the uncoded bit u, leaving uc₂c₁c₀; these remaining bits are then used to generate a 4 bit symbol that will be mapped according to a 4 bit symbol modulation (constellation and mapping) as defined by RC 5.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of periodic sequencing of a non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 using puncturing and rate control sequencer 1150 according to the invention. The rate control sequence in this embodiment includes the RCs (RC 0, RC 9, and RC 9) having a period of 3 RCs.

The available input of this non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 is (i₀i₁) as well as the uncoded bit, and the available output is (c₄c₃c₂c₁c₀) as well as the uncoded bit u, leaving the possible output to be uc₄c₃c₂c₁c₀. Puncturing is performed to select a predetermined sub-set of all of the available input and output bits of this non-systematic rate 2/5 sequencer 2000. The input cycles through the period of 3 RCs described above. The inputs bits cycle through the following sequence according to this particular period:

RC 0: i₀i₁;

RC 9: 0i₁;

RC 9: 0i₁;

The output bits of this period of RCs is as follows:

RC 0: c₃c₂c₁;

RC 9: c₂c₁c₀;

RC 9: c₂c₁c₀.

Clearly, additional rate control sequences that include different RCs may also be employed to perform and support the functionality described herein.

FIG. 28 shows additional periodic sequencing of rate controls supported by the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 of the FIG. 20. The rate control sequence in this embodiment includes the RCs (RC D, RC 8, RC D, RC D, RC D, and RC 8) having a period of 6 RCs. Within the FIG. 28, the inputs bits cycle through the following sequence according to this particular period:

RC D: 0i₁

RC 8: 00

RC D: 0i₁

RC D: 0i₁

RC D: 0i₁

RC 8: 00

The output bits of this period of RCs is as follows:

RC D: c₂c₁

RC 8: c₂c₀

RC D: c₂c₁

RC D: c₂c₁

RC D: c₂c₁

RC 8: c₂c₀

FIG. 29 shows yet additional periodic sequencing of rate controls supported by the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 of the FIG. 20. The rate control sequence in this embodiment includes the RCs (RC B, RC 5, RC B, RC 5, and RC 5) having a period of 5 RCs. Within the FIG. 29, the inputs bits cycle through the following sequence according to this particular period:

RC B: ui₀i₁

RC 5: u0i₁

RC B: ui₀i₁

RC 5: u0i₁

RC 5: u0i₁

The output bits of this period of RCs is as follows:

RC B: uc₃c₂c₁

RC 5: uc₂c₁c₀

RC B: uc₃c₂c₁

RC 5: uc₂c₁c₀

RC 5: uc₂c₁c₀

FIG. 30 shows yet additional periodic sequencing of rate controls supported by the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 of the FIG. 20. The rate control sequence in this embodiment includes the RCs (RC B, RC 4, RC 4, RC 4, RC B, RC B, and RC 4) having a period of 7 RCs. Within the FIG. 30, the inputs bits cycle through the following sequence according to this particular period:

RC B: ui₀i₁

RC 4: ui₀i₁

RC 4: ui₀i₁

RC 4: ui₀i₁

RC B: ui₀i₁

RC B: ui₀i₁

RC 4: ui₀i₁

The output bits of this period of RCs is as follows:

RC B: uc₃c₂c₁

RC 4: uc₃c₂c₁

RC 4: uc₃c₂c₁

RC 4: uc₃c₂c₁

RC B: uc₃c₂c₁

RC B: uc₃c₂c₁

RC 4: uc₃c₂c₁

The FIG. 30 shows one of the many possible examples of where different modulations are employed within the same rate control sequence. This particular example shows the mixing of 16 APSK and 16 QAM modulations. Each of the modulations of these two RCs 4 and B employs different constellations altogether. It is understood that other modulations may also be mixed together within a rate control sequence without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The FIGS. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 are examples of some of the possible modulations (constellations and mappings) that may be employed in accordance with the invention. It is noted that any number and types of modulations may be used (provided there are sufficient bits available in the encoding). Some examples of modulations include BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying), QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), APSK (Amplitude Phase Shift Keying), and variants thereof including 8 PSK, and higher orders of PSK, 16 QAM, and other higher orders of QAM (such as 64 QAM, 256 QAM, 1024 QAM), among other types of modulation.

FIG. 31 is a constellation diagram illustrating an embodiment of rate control governed mapping to 8 PSK constellations according to the invention. The FIG. 31 shows modulations (constellations and mappings) that may be performed according to the 3 bit symbols generated during encoding and puncturing. Depending on the RCs employed within a rate control sequence, when an 8 PSK modulation is selected, then one of these appropriate mappings may be selected. In one embodiment, these three modulations and their respective mappings are used to perform the final symbol mapping. The non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 employs these modulations (constellations and their mappings) when employing the RCs (RC 0, RC 9, and RC 1). It is noted that these RCs are exemplary and that other 3 bit symbol modulations and different mappings of those 3 bit symbols modulations may also be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

FIGS. 32, 33, and 34 are constellation diagrams illustrating embodiments of rate control governed mapping to QPSK constellations according to the invention. These FIGS. 32, 33, and 34 show modulations (constellations and mappings) that may be performed according to the 2 bit symbols generated during encoding and puncturing. It is noted that a variety of QPSK modulations may be employed. The RCs 3,2,A within the FIG. 33 show modulations whose constellations points are titled with respect to the I,Q axes. The RCs C,F,&7 within the FIG. 34 show modulations whose constellations points have different distances from the origin of the I,Q plane. A variety of modulations may performed according to QPSK, including embodiments where the constellation points align along the I,Q axes themselves and those whose constellation points are not equidistantly spaces with respect to the origin of the I,Q plane. These statements are also true for the other modulations employed as well. The invention envisions any number of modulations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

FIG. 35 is a constellation diagram illustrating an embodiment of rate control governed mapping to a 16 QAM constellation according to the invention. The FIG. 35 shows the modulation for RC 4 that corresponds to a 16 QAM constellation having a particular mapping.

FIG. 36 is a constellation diagram illustrating an embodiment of rate control governed mapping to 16 APSK constellations according to the invention. The FIG. 36 shows the modulations for RCs G,5&B that corresponds to a 16 APSK constellation having a particular mapping.

The following table shows some examples of different rate control sequences that may be supported by the non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 and the rate control sequencer 1150. These are exemplary, and variations thereof may be implemented without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, other rate control sequence may also be determined to operate within a given bandwidth of a communication channel. In addition, it is also noted that the particular order of the RCs within the following table may also be permutated without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. However, this permutation of the RCs within a rate control sequence may affect performance in some cases.

This table shows embodiments of how to generate various rate control sequences, according to various bandwidth efficiencies and periods, using the RCs described within the FIGS. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36.

Bandwidth efficiency Constellation (bits/second/Hz) Rate control sequence period 8 PSK 1.3333 (4/3) 099 3 1.5 (3/2) 09 2 1.6 (8/5) 00909 5 1.6667 (5/3) 009 3 1.7143 (12/7) 0009009 7 1.75 (7/4) 0009 4 2 0 1 2.1 (21/10) 0000000001 10 2.2 (11/5) 00001 5 2.25 (9/4) 0001 4 2.3 (23/10) 0001001001 10 2.4 (12/5) 00101 5 2.5 (5/2) 01 2 QPSK 0.6667 (2/3) D8DDD8 6 1 D 1 1.3333 (4/3) DDE 3 1.5 (3/2) DDEE 4 1.6 (8/5) DEE DEE DEE D 10 1.6667 (5/3) DEEEED 6 1.7143 (12/7) DDEEEDDEEEEEEEEEDDEEE 21 1.75 (7/4) DDEEEEEE 8 1.7778 (16/9) DDEEEEEEE 9 1.8 (9/5) EEDEE 5 1.8182 (20/11) EEEEEDEEEED 11 1.8333 (11/6) EEDEEEEEEDEE 12 1.8462 (24/13) DEEDEEEEEEEEE 13 1.8571 (13/7) EDDEEEEEEEEEEDEEEEEEE 21 16 QAM 3 4 1 16 APSK 3 B 1 2.8 (14/5) BBBB5 5 2.7 (27/10) BBB5BB5BB5 10 2.6 (13/5) BB5B5 5 2.5 (5/2) B5 2 2.4 (12/5) B5B55 5 2.3 (23/10) B555B55B55 10 2.25 (9/4) B555 4 2.2 (11/5) B5555 5 2.1 (21/10) B555555555 10 2 5 1

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of variable puncturing, constellations, and mapping using the single non-systematic rate 2/5 encoder 2000 according to the invention. The FIG. 37 particularly shows how encoder output bits are punctured, and how the remaining bits are associated with one or more particular constellations and how each of those constellations may have a unique mapping. The control of the puncturing, the constellations, and the mapping are all governed by the rate control sequencer 1150. The rate control sequencer 1150 may cycle through a predetermined rate control sequence; it may adaptively select one or more new rate control sequence based on operating conditions such as a communication channel's SNR, bandwidth requirements based on various user applications, or according to some other consideration as well.

The available encoder output bits are provided to a functional block that may employ one or more of a number of multiple puncturing options. In this embodiment, these puncturing options are shown as puncturing for the following RCs: 0,9,1,8,2,3,6,C,E,F,7,A,D,4,B,5&G. Each of these puncturing options is associated with one or more constellations (the constellations being of the form of 8 PSK, QPSK, 16 QAM, and 16 APSK).

In this embodiment, the output bits remaining after having performed the puncturing for RCs 0, 9, and 1 are then associated with the 8 PSK constellation. The output bits remaining after having performed the puncturing for RCs 8,2,3,6,C,E,F,7,A&D are then associated with the QPSK constellation. The output bits remaining after having performed the puncturing for RC 4 are then associated with the 16 QAM modulation. The output bits remaining after having performed the puncturing for RCs 4,B,5&G are then associated with the 16 APSK constellation.

The RC for each particular puncturing is not only associated with a constellation, but also with a mapping for that constellation. For example, even though each of the RCs 0, 9, and 1 is associated with the 8 PSK constellation, each of them has a unique mapping. Similarly, even though each of the 8,2,3,6,C,E,F,7,A&D is associated with the QPSK modulation, each of them has a unique mapping. Similarly, even though each of the RCs B,5,&G is associated with the 16 APSK modulation, each of them has a unique mapping.

FIG. 38 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM decoder system 3800 that is built according to the invention. A received signal is provided to an I,Q extraction functional block that extracts the I,Q (in-phase and quadrature) components from the received signal that are mapped according to a RC as determined by the rate control sequencer 1150. This may be viewed as being receiver pre-processing. The I,Q is then mapped according to the modulation's appropriate constellation and mapping. Then, the mapped I,Q is passed to a metric generator 3733 that also receives the RC input from the rate control sequencer 1150. The metric generator 3733 generates the appropriate metrics that are measured from the received I,Q to the constellation points within the modulation's appropriate constellation and mapping; the metrics are indexed by the mapping of the constellation points within the modulation; these metrics may be viewed as being the scaled Euclidian distances from the location of the actual received symbol to the expected constellation point locations within the modulation.

We then compare the metric associated with uncoded bit (u=0) with the metric associated with uncoded bit (u=1), and we select the smaller metric value. The smaller metric value is deemed a higher likelihood than the larger metric value according to this embodiment's convention. We also select value of u based on which metric has the smaller value. We select the possible value of the uncoded bit u to be 1 or 0 as determined by which of the associated metrics has the smaller value (metric associated with uncoded bit (u=0) or the metric associated with uncoded bit (u=1)). In certain embodiments, we may perform a min* operation that includes a logarithmic correction in selecting the smaller metric. Alternatively, we may perform a max* operation that includes a logarithmic correction in selecting the smaller metric. It is noted that the various embodiments of the invention may be implemented using the max* operations in lieu of the min* operation when preferred in a given implementation.

The min* calculation may be expressed as follows: min*(A,B)=min(A,B)−ln(1+e ^(−|A-B|))

The max* calculation may be expressed as follows: max*(A,B)=max(A,B)+ln(1+e ^(−|A-B|))

As an example of this operation, let us assume that we are using RC 5, whose punctured encoder output is in the form of uc₂c₁c₀. We then set u=1 and then u=0 for every combination (looking at c₂c₁c₀=111 as an example), so we deal with the two possible values for uc₂c₁c₀=0111 and uc₂c₁c₀=1111. We then compare the location of the received symbol, as mapped within the constellation, to the two constellation points indexed by 0111 and 1111. We then select from these two constellation points indexed by 0111 and 1111 based on which one has the smaller valued metric. So, in the RC 5 example used here, we reduce the total number of 16 metrics down to 8. We then store these 8 metric values and 8 possible uncoded bit values (indexed by the metrics indices for each symbol in a received frame), for subsequent use in decoding the uncoded bit after we have decoded the input bits, i₀i₁. After we perform decoding of the input bits, i₀i₁, then we will know with certainty what the bits c₂c₁c₀ are, and then we may directly determine the uncoded bit value u based on these 8 possible uncoded bit values that we have stored.

Continuing on with the decoding process and functionality, the metrics that are calculated by the metric generator 3733 are then provided to a top (even) SISO 3711 and simultaneously to a bottom (odd) SISO 3712. Each of these SISOs 3711 and 3712 calculates forward metrics (alphas) and backward metrics (betas), and extrinsic values according to the trellis employed (such as the trellis 2300). The calculation of exactly how to calculate these alphas, betas, and extrinsics according to the trellis is performed within the TTCM decoder 122. These alphas, betas, and extrinsics are all calculated for each symbol within a frame that is to be decoded. These calculations of alphas, betas, and extrinsics are all based on the trellis and according to the RC provided by the RC input from the rate control sequencer 1150. Starting with the top SISO 3711, after the extrinsic values have been calculated, they are passed to an interleaver 3721 after which it is passed to the bottom SISO 3712 as “a priori probability” (app) information. Similarly, after extrinsic values have been calculated within the bottom SISO 3712, they are passed to an interleaver 3722 after which it is passed to the top SISO 3711 as “a priori probability” (app) information. It is noted that a single decoding iteration, within the iterative decoding process of the TTCM decoder system 3800 consists of performing two SISO operations; that is to say, the iterative decoding process must pass through both the top (even) SISO 3711 and through the bottom (odd) SISO 3712.

After a significant level of confidence has been achieved and a solution is being converged upon, or after a predetermined number of decoding iterations have been performed, then the output from the bottom (odd) SISO 3712 is passed as output to an output processor 3730. The operation of the SISOs 3711 and 3712 may generally be referred to as calculating soft symbol decisions of the symbol contained within the received symbol. These soft symbol decisions may be performed on a true bit level in certain embodiments. The output processor 3730 uses these soft symbol decisions to generate hard symbol decisions for the input bits i₀i₁ of the input symbol and to provide decoded output data.

Moreover, in the situation where we have uncoded bits u that result from the coding of the input bits,i₀i₁, we then also need to use as many as 8 possible uncoded bit values (indexed by the metrics indices), so that we can directly determine the value of the uncoded bit. Even greater detail is provided below in the discussion associated with FIG. 43 that continues on with the example embodiment of RC 5.

It is also noted that the app sequence for the top (even) SISO 3711 must be initialized before beginning the iterative decoding. The notation for the app sequence app[i][j][k] is as follows:

1. i represents the possible binary value of the estimated bit

2. The positions of the estimated bit are denoted as follows: (j=0 refers the first bit into the encoder and j=1 refers the second bit into the encoder)

3. k is the index of the symbol's location within the data block (or frame).

More specifically, k represents the symbol index of the symbols in a frame of data, j is the bit index (j=0 for bit i₁ and j=1 for bit i₀), and i is the bit value (i=0 or 1). For example, app[1][0][50] represents the app for bit i₁ of the 50^(th) symbol being a value of 1.

At least two ways to initialize app[i][j][k] are described below:

1. app[i][j][k]=0.0,i,j ∈{0,1}, k ∈{0, . . ., N−1}. Each and every TTCM coding, using any of the possible combination of RCs for a rate control sequence may use this initialization.

2. The TTCM coding with RC sequence 8 can have different initialization defined as follows.

-   -   app[0][1][k]=0.0     -   app[1][1][k]=MAX, for all possible k.     -   app[0][0][k]=0.0

For the sequence app[0][0][k], we may first define the sequence based on the rate control sequence using the intermediate variable pP and pP* (which denotes the interleaved version of pP).

-   -   pP[1][0][k]=MAX for RC 8     -   pP[1][0][k]=0.0 otherwise

Then, we interleave this sequence with de-interleave π⁻¹ is employed to generate the sequence pP*[1][0][k]. Finally, we define the initial app[1][0][k] as follows:

-   -   app[1][0][k]=pP[1][0][k] if k mod2=0     -   app[1][0][k]=pP*[1][0][k] if k mod2=1

Moreover, by using the interleaving π, we can directly define the app[1][0][k] as follows:

-   -   app[1][0][k]=MAX if RC [{circumflex over (π)}(k)]=8     -   app[1][0][k]=0.0 otherwise

Further detail of the TTCM decoding functionality and operation is provided within several of the following Figures.

FIG. 39 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of an alternative TTCM decoder system 3900 that recycles a single SISO according to the invention. The alternative TTCM decoder system 3900 receives as input the I,Q from a received signal. Similar to the embodiment of the FIG. 34, an I,Q extraction functional block may also be employed to extract these I,Q inputs within the FIG. 39 as well when performing receiver pre-processing. A ping pong buffer, employing two input buffers, is employed for efficient buffering of the I,Q inputs. The I,Q inputs are then passed to the metric generator 3733. The functionality of the metric generator 3733 may be similar in both the FIG. 38 and the FIG. 39.

The output of the metric generator 3733 is passed to the single SISO; the information necessary to perform decoding of any possible uncoded bits will be passed to the output processor 3730. The SISO calculates forward metrics (alphas), backward metrics (betas), and extrinsic values (exts) according to the trellis employed (such as the trellis 2300) and provides them to a functional block that is operable to perform both interleaving and de-interleaving (depending upon which SISO operation is being performed). The output of the interleaver/de-interleaver functional block is passed back to the SISO as app.

Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 38, it is noted that a single decoding iteration, within the iterative decoding process of the alternative TTCM decoder system 3900 consists of performing two SISO operations; that is to say, the iterative decoding process must pass through both the SISO once (when the SISO performs the top SISO functionality) and through the SISO again (when the SISO performs the bottom SISO functionality).

After a significant level of confidence for the soft symbol decisions within the SISO have been achieved and a solution is being converged upon, or after a predetermined number of decoding iterations have been performed, then the output from the SISO is passed as output to the output processor 3730. These soft symbol decisions may also be performed on a true bit level in certain embodiments. The output processor 3730 uses these soft symbol decisions to generate hard symbol decisions and to provide decoded output data. It is also noted that a similar app initialization of the FIG. 38 may be used within the FIG. 39.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of I,Q extraction that is performed according to the invention. A received symbol, having a magnitude and phase is provided to an I,Q extraction block. This symbol (or signal) is mapped in a two dimensional space such that an in-phase and a quadrature component. This in-phase measurement and the quadrature component are provided as output from the I,Q extraction functional block.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of received I,Q mapping performed based on RC according to the invention. After the I,Qs are provided, then according to the RC provided by the rate control sequencer 1150, the received I,Q are mapped according to one of the modulation's constellations corresponding to the RC. Then, after the appropriate constellation has been selected, and the mapping has been determined based on the RC of the rate control sequence, the I,Q is mapped to a symbol in the appropriate modulation (with its particular constellation and mapping). Afterwards, a mapped symbol is provided as output from the FIG. 40.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of metric calculation performed by a metric generator 3733 according to the invention. A specific example is provided in the FIG. 42 using the RC 9, and it will then be understood how the metric calculation is performed for the other various modulations (constellations and mappings). The metric calculation may be performed in a similar manner in the other rate control sequences with their respective RCs.

The received symbol is mapped within this modulation (constellation and mapping). Then, the metric (scaled Euclidian distance) to each of the constellation points, from the received symbol, is calculated and indexed according to the mapping of the respective constellation points. This distance corresponds to the calculation in the metric generator that may be performed as follows: Metric(Ux2x1x0)=1/(2sigma^²)*[(Rx _(—) I−I_Coef)²+(Rx _(—) Q−Q_Coef)²]

Here, the scaling of the distance by [1/(2sigma^²)] (where sigma is the standard deviation of the normalized noise of the received symbol) accommodates for the normalized noise of the received symbol in determining this distance. The I_Coef and the Q_Coef are the expected locations (in terms of I,Q) at which the received symbol is expected to be mapped (constellation point location), and Rx_I and Rx_Q are the actual locations at which the received symbol is mapped.

For example, the metric corresponds to the distance from the received symbol to the constellation point associated with the symbol 1=(001 in binary) is shown as M(1); . . . . ; and the metric corresponding to the distance from the received symbol to the constellation point associated with the symbol 3=(011 in binary) is shown as M(3). These metrics are output from the metric generator 3733.

FIG. 43 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of metric mapping functionality that is performed according to the invention. The received symbol metrics (received metric=M_(r)), indexed according to the modulation (constellation and mapping) according to the RC (as provided by the rate control sequencer 1150), are then passed to a functional block that transforms these received metrics to trellis metrics (trellis metric=M_(t)). These trellis metrics are then used to calculate the alphas, betas, and extrinsics within the SISO. These alphas, betas, and extrinsics may be calculated using a min* approach according to the invention. Again, a max* approach may alternatively be used.

From the received I,Q values, a 2-bit metric for QPSK, a 3-bit metric M_(r)(x₂x₁x₀) for 8-PSK, and a 4-bit metric M_(r)(x₃x₂x₁x₀) for 16-QAM and 16-APSK can be computed. With either of these metrics, we may form a 3-bit metric M_(t) that is to be sent to the SISO decoder with possible uncoded bit information. However, metric used in the SISO decoder depends on the trellis output that is a 5-bit symbol in general (using the rate 2/5 prototype encoder 2000). Some additional intelligence must be employed for proper assigning of these metrics to the trellis.

In order to have a universal decoder for all the RC number, some transforms from the received metric M_(r)(x₃x₂x₁x₀) to M_(s)(x₂x₁x₀) and from the trellis metric M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂c₁c₀) to M_(s)(abc) need to be introduced.

As an example, the transformation of the follow RCs are shown below.

For RC 0: the received metric M_(r)(x₂x₁x₀) is mapped to an intermediate metric M_(s)(c₃c₂c₁). This intermediate metric M_(s)(c₃c₂c₁) is mapped to the trellis metric M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂c₁c₀). The last three bits of the intermediate metric M_(s)(c₃c₂c₁) are mapped to the four possible trellis metrics M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂c₁c₀) where the bits and may be treated as don't care. For example, the four metrics M_(t)(0c₃c₂c₁0), M_(t)(0c₃c₂c₁1), M_(t)(1c₃c₂c₁0, and M_(t)(1c₃c₂c₁1) are all mapped to have the very same value for the metrics within the trellis 2300.

These operations may be described below as follows: M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁ x ₀)=M _(r)(x ₂ x ₁ x ₀) M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=M _(s)(c ₃ c ₂ c ₁)

For RC 1: the received metric M_(r)(ux₁x₀) that includes an uncoded bit is initially mapped using a min* operation to generate the following intermediate received metric M _(r)(x₁x₀)=min*{M_(r)(0x₁x₀), M_(r)(1x₁x₀)}. The uncoded bit is dealt with via the min* operation to deal with the both of the possible values by which u may take.

These operations may be described below as follows: M _(r)(x ₁ x ₀)=min*{M _(r)(0x ₁ x ₀), M _(r)(1x ₁ x ₀)} M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁0)=M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁1)= M _(r)(x ₂ x ₁) M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=M _(s)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂)

Now, each of the following metrics would all be assigned the same value according to the trellis. M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂00)=M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂01)=M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂10)=M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂11)

The possible value of the uncoded bit indexed by (x₁x₀) will be 0 if M_(r)(0x₁x₀)<M_(r)(1x₁x₀), otherwise the possible value of the uncoded bit indexed by (x₁x₀) will be 1 if M_(r)(0x₁x₀)≧M_(r)(1x₁x₀).

For RCs 2,3,6,C&E: for the received metric M_(r)(x₂x₁), the following transformations are performed. M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁0)=M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁1)=M _(r)(x ₂ x ₁) M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=M _(s)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂)

Now, each of the following metrics would all be assigned the same value according to the trellis. M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂00)=M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂01)=M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂10)=M_(t)(c₄c₃c₂11)

For RCs 4&B: for the received metric M_(r)(ux₂x₁x₀) that includes an uncoded bit, the min* operation is again employed. The following transformations are performed. M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁ x ₀)=min*{M _(r)(0x ₂ x ₁ x ₀), M _(r)(1x ₂ x ₁ x ₀)} M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=M _(s)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂)

Now, each of the following metrics would all be assigned the same value according to the trellis. M_(t)(0c₃c₂c₁0)=M_(t)(0c₃c₂c₁1)=M_(t)(1c₃c₂c₁0)=M_(t)(1c₃c₂c₁1)

The possible value of the uncoded bit indexed by (x₂x₁x₀) will be 0 if M_(r)(0x₂x₁x₀)<M_(r)(1x₂x₁x₀), otherwise the possible value of the uncoded bit indexed by (x₂x₁x₀) will be 1 if M_(r)(0x₂x₁x₀)≧M_(r)(1x₂x₁x₀).

For RCs 7,A&D: for the received metric M_(r)(x₁x₀), the following transformations are performed. M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁ x ₀)=M _(r)(x ₁ x ₀), when x ₂=0

M_(s)(x₂x₁x₀)=MAX, when x₂=1. MAX is the maximum metric that is employed in the decoding system. M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=M _(s)(c ₄ c ₂ c ₁)

Now, each of the following metrics would all be assigned the same value according to the trellis. M_(t)(c₄0c₂c₁0)=M_(t)(c₄0c₂c₁1)=M_(t)(c₄1c₂c₁0)=M_(t)(c₄1c₂c₁1)

For RC 9: for the received metric M_(r)(x₂x₁x₀), the following transformations are performed. M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁ x ₀)=M _(r)(x ₂ x ₁ x ₀) M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=M _(s)(c ₂ c ₁ c ₀), when c ₄=0. M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=MAX, when c ₄=1.

For RC 5: for the received metric M_(r)(ux₂x₁x₀) that includes an uncoded bit, the min* operation is again employed. The following transformations are performed. M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁ x ₀)=min*{M _(r)(0x ₂ x ₁ x ₀), M _(r)(1x ₂ x ₁ x ₀)} M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=M _(s)(c ₂ c ₁ c ₀), when c ₄=0. M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=MAX, when c ₄=1.

The possible value of the uncoded bit indexed by (x₂x₁x₀) will be 0 if M_(r)(0x₂x₁x₀)<M_(r)(1x₂x₁x₀), otherwise the possible value of the uncoded bit indexed by (x₂x₁x₀) will be 1 if M_(r)(0x₂x₁x₀)≧M_(r)(1x₂x₁x₀).

For RC 8: for the received metric M_(r)(x₁x₀), the following transformations are performed. M _(s)(x ₂ x ₁ x ₀)=M _(r)(x ₁ x ₀), when x ₂=0

M_(s)(x₂x₁x₀)=MAX, when x₂=1. MAX is the maximum metric that is employed in the decoding system. M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=M _(s)(c ₃ c ₂ c ₀), when c ₄=0. M _(t)(c ₄ c ₃ c ₂ c ₁ c ₀)=MAX, when c ₄=1.

For even greater understanding of the mapping of these metric functions to the trellis 2300 employed by the rate 2/5 prototype sequencer 2000, we will walk through the following example. We use the outputs of the trellis 2300 to perform this assigning of the metrics. The following table is used to show how this mapping to the trellis is performed according to RC 8.

state output output output output 0 = 000 0 14 31 25 x00000 octal x01100 octal x11001 octal x10101 octal Met(0) Met(6) Met(5) Met(7) MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 1 = 001 31 25 0 14 x11001 octal x10101 octal x00000 octal x01100 octal Met(5) Met(7) Met(0) Met(6) MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 2 = 010 12 6 23 37 x01010 octal x00110 octal x10011 octal x11111 octal Met(4) Met(2) Met(5) Met(7) MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 3 = 011 23 37 12 6 x10011 octal x11111 octal x01010 octal x00110 octal Met(5) Met(7) Met(4) Met(2) MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 4 - 100 24 30 15 1 x10100 octal x11000 octal x01101 octal x00001 octal Met(6) Met(4) Met(7) Met(1) MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 5 = 101 15 1 24 30 x01101 octal x00001 octal x10100 octal x11000 octal Met(7) Met(1) Met(6) Met(4) MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 6 = 110 36 22 7 13 x11110 octal x10010 octal x00111 octal x01011 octal Met(6) Met(4) Met(3) Met(5) MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 7 = 111 7 13 36 22 x00111 octal x01011 octal x11110 octal x10010 octal Met(3) Met(5) Met(6) Met(4) MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1 MAX: as x₂ = c₄ = 1

It is seen in this example that there are only 4 distinct valued metrics that need to be provided from the metric generator to a SISO in the RC 8. MAX (the maximum metric value) is used to define the “least likelihood probability.” A great deal of memory may be saved by passing only a flag bit (for those metrics who will use the MAX value) that indicates such information to the SISO.

It is also noted that for the states 0=000 and 1=001, the metrics are all the same values only swapped. This is the case also for the state groupings {2=010, 3=011}, {4=100, 5=101}, and {6=110, 7=111}. Such efficiency may be similarly achieved with respect to each of the RCs, and efficient hardware implementations may capitalize thereon to provide for savings.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of SISO calculations and operations that are performed according to the invention. For each stage (or each symbol) within a frame of received symbols (or sequence of received symbols), the forward metrics (alphas), the backward metrics (betas), and the extrinsics are calculated. The extrinsics value of a stage is a function of the alphas, betas, metrics, and apps (“a priori” probabilities) of that stage. The metrics (that have been mapped according to the trellis and according to the rate control sequence from the metric generator 3733 and as also described in greater detail above within the discussion of the FIG. 43) are provided to the SISO within the FIG. 44. The SISO employs these metrics to calculate the alphas, and the betas. Then, the alphas, betas, and metrics are used to calculate the extrinsics that are provided back to the other SISO through the other interleaver/de-interleaver as appropriate in the particular situation. It is noted that the values of metrics, alphas, betas, and extrinsics are all used to perform the TTCM decoding of the information bits that have been encoded by the TTCM encoder.

For even greater understanding of the calculation of these variables according to the trellis 2300 that is employed by the rate 2/5 prototype sequencer 2000, we show the following steps of calculations. It is noted that this is one particular example of how these variables may be calculated, and other means are also envisioned within the scope and spirit of the invention that supports the variable code rate functionality described herein.

As mentioned above, the trellis 2300 may be represented using 8 distinct metric values in an efficient implementation. Therefore, for each stage (or symbol) of a received frame of symbols (I,Qs), we will have 8 different metrics, 8 different alphas, and 8 different betas. As also mentioned above, some savings may be achieved when more than one of the metrics has the same value according to the coding and the trellis 2300. Similar savings may also be achieved within other trellises that inherently support such redundancy.

We use the trellis to calculate the values for alpha. In this particular embodiment, a value of 0 is associated with a high likelihood and a value of N is associated with a value of less likelihood. However, if desired in a particular embodiment, the association may be reversed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

When calculating the 8 alphas for the first symbol of the trellis 2300, we initially set the values to be as follows:

α₀(0)=0; the value of 0 is assigned to be a high likelihood, and we set the other alphas to be the value of N, associated with the less likelihood. α₂(0)=α₃(0)=α₄(0)=α₅(0)=α₆(0)=α₇(0)=N

We will show the manner in which we calculate the alphas for a first received symbol within a frame.

The alpha associated with the state 0 may be calculated as follows: α_(n)(0)=min*{A ₀ , A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃} where, A ₀=α_(n-1)(0)+Met(0)+app(i ₁=0)+app(i ₀=0), input 0=00, output=0=x00000 A ₁=α_(n-1)(1)+Met(14)+app(i ₁=0)+app(i ₀=1), input 1=01, output=14=x01100 A ₂=α_(n-1)(2)+Met(31)+app(i ₁=1)+app(i ₀=0), input 2=10, output=31=x11001 A ₃=α_(n-1)(3)+Met(25)+app(i ₁=1)+app(i ₀=1), input 3=11, output=25=x10101

Similarly, the alpha associated with the state 1 may be calculated as follows: α_(n)(1)=min*{AA ₀ ,AA ₁ ,AA ₂ ,AA ₃} where, AA ₀=α_(n-1)(2)+Met(31)+app(i ₁=1)+app(i ₀=0), input 2=10, output=31=x11001 AA ₁=α_(n-1)(3)+Met(25)+app(i ₁=1)+app(i ₀=1), input 3=11, output=25=x10101 AA ₂=α_(n-1)(0)+Met(0)+app(i ₁=0)+app(i ₀=0), input 0=00, output=00=x00000 AA ₃=α_(n-1)(1)+Met(14)+app(i ₁=0)+app(i ₀=1), input 1=01, output=14=x01100

This process will continue until all of the alphas are calculated for the symbol. The beta values are calculated in the backwards direction in a similar manner according to the same trellis. The same min* design, replicated many times in hardware, may be employed to perform simultaneous calculation of both the alphas and the betas. However, in slower data rate applications where throughput is not such a high priority, the same min* hardware element may be used to perform the alpha and beta calculations sequentially.

Once that the alphas and betas have been calculated at any stage, we can proceed to calculate for the extrinsic values so that we may decode the input bits of the input symbol, namely the two input bits (i₀i₁), for that stage.

The following table may be used to illustrate how we calculate these values according to the trellis 2300 that is employed by the rate 2/5 prototype sequencer 2000. In this embodiment, since we have two input bits (i₀i₁), we need to calculate the extrinsic values for the possibility that each of the bits within the symbol may be 0 or may be 1. We will do this by calculating the following extrinsic values: ext(00), ext(01), ext(10), and ext(11).

The following table is used to show the 4 extrinsics that we need to calculate to perform proper decoding of the input symbol having the two input bits (i₀i₁).

possible two input bits Extrinsic value bit of concern [symbol = (i₀i₁)] ext(00) = ext(i₀ = 0) bit i₀ = 0 0 = 00 or 2 = 10 ext(10) = ext(i₀ = 1) bit i₀ = 1 1 = 01 or 3 = 11 ext(01) = ext(i₁ = 0) bit i₁ = 0 0 = 00 or 1 = 01 ext(11) = ext(i₁ = 1) bit i₁ = 1 2 = 10 or 3 = 11

In this embodiment, we perform a min* calculation to calculate our four extrinsic values. It is noted, however, that other embodiments may perform a min only calculation, a max only calculation, or a max* calculation without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The variable code rate functionality of using multiple modulations (constellations and mappings), and cycling through rate control sequences thereof may still be performed when using other such functions to calculate the extrinsic values within the SISO functional blocks.

We perform the min* operation on a host of values to calculate these various extrinsic values.

First, we look at all branches within the trellis where (i₀=0), and we find that we get 16 branches. We do a min* operation across those branches to calculate this the extrinsic value. ext(00)=ext(i ₀=0)=min*{ [beta_(—)0+alpha_(—)0+a priori(01)+met(0)]; [beta_(—)0+alpha_(—)1+a priori(11)+met(31)]; [beta_(—)1+alpha_(—)6+a priori(11)+met(36)]; [beta_(—)1+alpha_(—)7+a priori(01)+met(7)]; [beta_(—)2+alpha_(—)4+a priori(11)+met(30)]; [beta_(—)2+alpha_(—)5+a priori(11)+met(1)]; [beta_(—)3+alpha_(—)2+a priori(01)+met(6)]; [beta_(—)3+alpha_(—)3+a priori(01)+met(37)]; [beta_(—)4+alpha_(—)0+a priori(11)+met(31)]; [beta_(—)4+alpha_(—)1+a priori(11)+met(0)]; [beta_(—)5+alpha_(—)6+a priori(01)+met(7)]; [beta_(—)5+alpha_(—)7+a priori(01)+met(36)]; [beta_(—)6+alpha_(—)4+a priori(01)+met(1)]; [beta_(—)6+alpha_(—)5+a priori(11)+met(30)]; [beta_(—)7+alpha_(—)2+a priori(11)+met(37)]; [beta_(—)7+alpha_(—)3+a priori(01)+met(6)];

Second, we now look at all branches within the trellis where (i₀=1), and we find that we also get 16 branches. We do a min* operation across those branches to calculate this the extrinsic value. ext(10)=ext(i ₀=1)=min*{ [beta_(—)0+alpha_(—)4+a priori(11)+met(24)]; [beta_(—)0+alpha_(—)5+a priori(01)+met(15)]; [beta_(—)1+alpha_(—)2+a priori(01)+met(12)]; [beta_(—)1+alpha_(—)3+a priori(11)+met(23)]; [beta_(—)2+alpha_(—)0+a priori(01)+met(14)]; [beta_(—)2+alpha_(—)1+a priori(01)+met(25)]; [beta_(—)3+alpha_(—)6+a priori(11)+met(22)]; [beta_(—)3+alpha_(—)7+a priori(01)+met(13)]; [beta_(—)4+alpha_(—)4+a priori(01)+met(15)]; [beta_(—)4+alpha_(—)5+a priori(11)+met(24)]; [beta_(—)5+alpha_(—)2+a priori(11)+met(23)]; [beta_(—)5+alpha_(—)3+a priori(01)+met(12)]; [beta_(—)6+alpha_(—)0+a priori(11)+met(25)]; [beta_(—)6+alpha_(—)1+a priori(01)+met(14)]; [beta_(—)7+alpha_(—)6+a priori(01)+met(13)]; [beta_(—)7+alpha_(—)7+a priori(11)+met(22)]}

We may use these two extrinsic values calculated above to decode for the first bit of the input symbol that was encoded, namely i₀. We use the following equation to do the final decode for i₀. i ₀=sgn{−[ext(i ₀=0)+app(i ₀=0)]+[ext(i ₀ =1)+app(i ₀=1)]}

Functionally, we select the smaller one of [ext(i₀=0)+app(i₀=0)] and [ext(i₀=1)+app(i₀=1)] in the above equation, and we select the bit value associated with the smaller sum. For example, if [ext(i₀=0)+app(i₀=0)]<[ext(i₀=1)+app(i₀=1)], then we make i₀=0.

We perform similar operations to calculate for the bit value for i₁ within the input symbol.

Third, we look at all branches within the trellis where (i₁=0), and we find that we get 16 branches. We do a min* operation across those branches to calculate this the extrinsic value. ext(01)=ext(i ₁=0)=min*{ [beta_(—)0+alpha_(—)0+a priori(00)+met(0)]; [beta_(—)0+alpha_(—)5+a priori(10)+met(15)]; [beta_(—)1+alpha_(—)2+a priori(10)+met(12)]; [beta_(—)1+alpha_(—)7+a priori(00)+met(7)]; [beta_(—)2+alpha_(—)0+a priori(10)+met(14)]; [beta_(—)2+alpha_(—)5+a priori(00)+met(1)]; [beta_(—)3+alpha_(—)2+a priori(00)+met(6)]; [beta_(—)3+alpha_(—)7+a priori(10)+met(13)]; [beta_(—)4+alpha_(—)1+a priori(00)+met(0)]; [beta_(—)4+alpha_(—)4+a priori(10)+met(15)]; [beta_(—)5+alpha_(—)3+a priori(10)+met(12)]; [beta_(—)5+alpha_(—)6+a priori(00)+met(7)]; [beta_(—)6+alpha_(—)1+a priori(10)+met(15)]; [beta_(—)6+alpha_(—)4+a priori(00)+met(1)]; [beta_(—)7+alpha_(—)3+a priori(00)+met(6)]; [beta_(—)7+alpha_(—)6+a priori(10)+met(13)]}

Fourth, we now look at all branches within the trellis where (i₁=1), and we find that we also get 16 branches. We do a min* operation across those branches to calculate this the extrinsic value. ext(11)=ext(i ₁=1)=min*{ [beta_(—)0+alpha_(—)1+a priori(00)+met(31)]; [beta_(—)0+alpha_(—)4+a priori(10)+met(24)]; [beta_(—)1+alpha_(—)3+a priori(10)+met(23)]; [beta_(—)1+alpha_(—)6+a priori(00)+met(36)]; [beta_(—)2+alpha_(—)1+a priori(10)+met(25)]; [beta_(—)2+alpha_(—)4+a priori(00)+met(30)]; [beta_(—)3+alpha_(—)3+a priori(00)+met(37)]; [beta_(—)3+alpha_(—)6+a priori(10)+met(22)]; [beta_(—)4+alpha_(—)0+a priori(00)+met(31)]; [beta_(—)4+alpha_(—)5+a priori(10)+met(24)]; [beta_(—)5+alpha_(—)2+a priori(10)+met(23)]; [beta_(—)5+alpha_(—)7+a priori(00)+met(36)]; [beta_(—)6+alpha_(—)0+a priori(10)+met(25)]; [beta_(—)6+alpha_(—)5+a priori(00)+met(30)]; [beta_(—)7+alpha_(—)2+a priori(00)+met(37)]; [beta_(—)7+alpha_(—)7+a priori(10)+met(22)]}

We may use these two extrinsic values calculated above to decode for the first bit of the input symbol that was encoded, namely i₀. We use the following equation to do the final decode for i₀. i ₁=sgn{[ext(i ₁=1)+app(i ₁=1)]−[ext(i ₁=0)+app(i ₁=0)]}

Functionally, we select the smaller one of [ext(i₁=0)+app(i₁=0)] and [ext(i₁=1)+app(i₁=1)] in the above equation, and we select the bit value associated with the smaller sum. For example, if [ext(i₁=0)+app(i₁=0)]<[ext(i₁=1)+app(i₁=1)], then we make i₁=0.

Now we have decoder the individual bits for the input symbol, (i₀i₁), as being one of either 0=01, 1=01, 2=10, or 3=11.

In addition, we need to perform a little additional computation in the situation where we have a RC that includes an uncoded bit.

We continue on to use the RC 5 to illustrate this situation. The other RCs would undergo analogous calculations to determine the final value of the uncoded bit. The puncturing for the RC 5 may be seen in the FIG. 26, and its mapping may be seen in the FIG. 36. We use the earlier extrinsic calculated information to decode the uncoded bit for RC 5, whose punctured output takes the form of uc₂c₁c₀. We can narrow our input selection somewhat to have the form of only one of two input symbols, 0 and 1, or 0=(i₀i₁=00) and 1=(i₀i₁=01), because we know that this RC 5 always provides the bit i₀ as value 0. Therefore, we need only to decode the other input bit i₁ within this RC 5. The following table is employed to generate the indexing of the uncoded bit so that, after we have decoded the input bits, i₀i₁, we will be able to decode the uncoded bit u properly.

Trellis output input c₄c₃c₂c₁c_(o) min* operation symbol (octal) c₂c₁c_(o) (metric indexed by c₂c₁c_(o)) 0 0 0 min*{[alpha_0+beta_0+met(0)]; (i₀i₁ = 00) [alpha_1+beta_4+met(0)]} 0 1 1 min*{[alpha_4+beta_6+met(1)]; (i₀i₁ = 00) [alpha_5+beta_2+met(1)]} 0 6 6 min*{[alpha_2+beta_3+met(6)]; (i₀i₁ = 00) [alpha_3+beta_7+met(6)]} 0 7 7 min*{[alpha_6+beta_5+met(7)]; (i₀i₁ = 00) [alpha_7+beta_1+met(7)]} 1 12 2 min*{[alpha_2+beta_1+met(2)]; (i₀i₁ = 01) [alpha_3+beta_5+met(2)]} 1 13 3 min*{[alpha_6+beta_7+met(3)]; (i₀i₁ = 01) [alpha_7+beta_3+met(3)]} 1 14 4 min*{[alpha_0+beta_2+met(4)]; (i₀i₁ = 01) [alpha_1+beta_6+met(4)]} 1 15 5 min*{[alpha_4+beta_4+met(5)]; (i₀i₁ = 01) [alpha_5+beta_0+met(5)]}

From the decoder input, such as input bit symbol 0, (i₀i₁=00), we then determine which one of the four min* results above is the smallest. This is then the index that we use to select the one of the possible 8 values for the uncoded bit. As an example, if the min* of the metric for 6 {the min* calculation associated with met(6)} is the smallest, then we will use this index to select the value of the uncoded bit u from the previously stored values.

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of alpha, beta, and extrinsic calculation, based on a trellis 2300 of a rate 2/5 non-systematic prototype encoder 2000, that is performed according to the invention. The FIG. 45 shows how the trellis 2300 may be effectively overlaid at each symbol location within a frame of received symbols and how this particular trellis 2300 inherently provides an efficiency, in that, regardless of the RC that is being employed in a given instance, the received metrics associated with that RC may be mapped into the same trellis 2300 and reduced to a maximum of 8 trellis metrics in certain embodiments as opposed to storing all 16 metric values for each of the possible branches of the trellis 2300. This is performed using normalization and saturation in order to reduce the total number of trellis metrics that need to be stored; by reducing the required memory storage from 16 down to 8, a memory savings of a factor of 2 is achieved. Similarly, normalization and saturation is performed in order to reduce the total number of extrinsic values that need to be stored for each input bit that is encoded. In prior art systems, there would be a need for 4 extrinsic values per information bit thereby requiring 8 extrinsic values for this embodiment which has 2 input bits (4 extrinsic values each for the 2 bits). However, the invention is able to reduce the total number of extrinsic values that need to be stored to only 2 per bit thereby achieving a memory savings by a factor of 2. The received metrics are calculated for each symbol, these metrics are transformed into trellis metrics, and the alphas, betas, and extrinsics are all calculated for each symbol according to the invention. Again, it is noted that the trellis 2300 shows one embodiment of how the invention may be implemented. The invention envisions other trellises that also may be implemented to support the variable code rate functionality as well.

FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of final output of decoding that is performed according to the invention. In the situation where there may be only one SISO, then the odd symbol should be taken before de-interleave and the even symbol should be taken after de-interleave.

In a similar manner to the ordering in which the encoding may be performed (as described within the embodiment of the FIG. 13, for example), the order of the input symbols should be preserved upon decoding. The final output of decoding ensures the following: when we input a symbol sequence, S₁S₂S₃S₄, to the encoder, and then when the following encoded symbols (S_(1-enc)S_(2-enc)S_(3-enc)S_(4-enc)) are received by the decoder, then the decoded estimates of these received symbols will maintain this sequential order. A MUX whose selection is provided by a clock signal that is clocked at 1/2 the rate will alternatively select the outputs from the output and input of the de-interleaver that is communicatively coupled to the lower SISO. This MUX in the FIG. 46 may be viewed as being within the output processor 3730 within either of the FIGS. 38 or 39. The FIG. 46 shows an embodiment of how this may be performed in the final decoding step.

FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a variable code rate codec (encoder/decoder) servicing channels of various SNRs according to the invention. A variable code rate encoder is operable to transit/broadcast simultaneously to multiple variable code rate decoders. When the communication channel that communicatively couples to one of the variable code rate decoders is of a low SNR, then the lower code rates may be employed when coding data for use by the variable code rate decoder. Analogously, when the communication channel that communicatively couples to one of the variable code rate decoders is of a high SNR, then the higher code rates may be employed when coding data for use by the variable code rate decoder. In addition, either one or both of the encoder and the decoder employed may adaptively change the rate control sequence, in real-time, based on the operating conditions of the communication channel; after there has been a change to a new rate control sequence, then both the encoder and the decoder will now operate at that new rate control sequence.

The rate control sequence to be employed when encoding and subsequently decoding information may be selected based on the given bandwidth of a communication channel. The rate control sequence is then selected, based on the bandwidth of the communication channel, as including the RCs that provide for the best performance (such as the grouping of RCs that provides for the lowest Bit Error Rate (BER)). This selection of which rate control sequence to employ may also be performed based on the application that is being used. For example, in some data applications, a slight latency in the delivery of information may sometimes be tolerated. However, in other applications, such as video or Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications, the latency will degrade the performance significantly. The inclusion of such parameters may be employed when selecting which RCs to be employed within a given rate control sequence.

Generally speaking, as the noise of the channel increases, the coding may select a new code rate as provided by a new rate control sequence. This new code rate (when channel noise increases) may employ employs RCs with constellations of lower order (having a fewer number of constellation points) and/or operate at lower bandwidth efficiencies (fewer information bits per symbol). Similarly, as the noise of the channel decreases, the coding may select a new rate control sequence. This new code rate (when channel noise decreases) may employ employs RCs with constellations of higher order (having a larger number of constellation points) and/or operate at higher bandwidth efficiencies (more information bits per symbol).

This variable code rate functionality, including the adaptive functionality thereof, may be implemented in a variety of contexts to provide for overall improvement in the communication system. One embodiment may include varying the rates to accommodate the different SNR regions within wireless transmission from a satellite to subscribers on the earth. A direct path from the satellite may be viewed as generating a beam spot that would likely have a SNR that is higher than the evanescent regions of the wireless transmission where the field will fall off. The variable code rate functionality, according to the invention, may be used to support different rates to these various regions. In such an implementation, a maximal throughput may be achieved by tailoring the code rate to the communication to a particular receiver based on the highest SNR that the channel to that receiver may support.

Moreover, the invention envisions modifying the code rate based on changes to the SNR of the channel as well; the device at either end of the communication channel may perform the measurement of the communication system's operating conditions including the SNR of various portions of the channel. This is also described above wherein either one or both of the transmitter and the receiver may be employed to monitor such parameters and to change the rate control sequence to be employed based on these parameters. Both the encoder and decoder then will move to the new rate control sequence synchronously to ensure proper communication of information.

FIG. 48 is an operational flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate coding method 4800 that is performed according to the invention. As shown in a block 4810, a RC is selected. This selection may be based on a communication system's operating conditions as shown in the optional block 4812. Moreover, the selection of the RC may specifically be made based on the communication channel's SNR, as shown in an optional block 4814.

Afterwards, once one or more RCs has/have been selected, then the information bits are encoded using a single TTCM encoder as shown in a block 4820. These information bits are implemented as symbols within the non-systematic rate 2/5 2000 that is used throughout this document as an exemplary embodiment; however, in other embodiments, a single bit may also be encoded using the single TTCM encoder shown in the block 4820. These encoded symbols (or bit) are provided for decoding.

In a block 4840, the received symbols are decoded using the same single TTCM decoder according to the same RC in which the information bits were encoded. A single TTCM encoder and a single TTCM decoder that perform the method of the FIG. 48 will both employ the same trellis when performing the coding/decoding according to the RC.

In alternative embodiments, it is noted that the method may cycle through a predetermined rate control sequence consisting of various RCs, as shown in an optional block 4850. Each RC within the rate control sequence may be viewed as having a unique constellation (block 4852); each RC may have an individual bandwidth efficiency (block 4854); multiple RCs may operate cooperatively to provide for an average bandwidth efficiency (block 4856); and a predetermined rate control sequence may have a particular period (block 4858) that may be repeated several times within a data frame. This cycling through the predetermined rate control sequence as shown in the optional block 4850 is performed after the decoding in the block 4840 and before subsequently repeating encoding in the block 4820 according to the appropriate RC as defined by the rate control sequence.

It is also noted that the method may employ adaptive selection of a new RC based on the communication system's operating conditions as shown in an optional block 4860. Moreover, the selection of the new RC may specifically be made based on the communication channel's SNR, as shown in an optional block 4864.

FIG. 49 is an operational flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate encoding method 4900 that is performed according to the invention. In a block 4910, a RC is selected. Thereafter, information bits (that may be viewed as a symbol) are encoded using a single encoder as shown in a block 4920. None, one, or more of the encoded bits are then punctured as shown in a block 4930; this puncturing is performed according to the selected RC.

Based on the RC, a constellation is selected in a block 4940. Now, the remaining bits, after the puncturing is performed, are mapped to a symbol for the selected constellation as shown in a block 4950. This symbol is then modulated, according to the selected modulation (having a constellation and mapping) as determined by the RC as shown in a block 4960.

FIG. 50 is an operational flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate decoding method 5000 that is performed according to the invention. In a block 5010, a RC is selected. The symbol is received in a block 5020. Metrics are then calculated according to the invention for the received symbol as shown in a block 5030. This symbol is then decoded according to the appropriate modulation (constellation and mapping) using a single decoder as shown in a block 5040.

FIG. 51 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate encoding method 5100 that is performed according to the invention. In a block 5112, information bits are provided to a first interleaver and to a first constituent trellis encoder (CTE). Simultaneously, those same information bits are provided to a second interleaver and to a second CTE. After these information bits have been encoded and interleaved using the first interleaver and CTE and the second interleaver and the second CTE, the output from each of these blocks 5112 and 5114 are alternatively selected as shown in a block 5120. A RC is determined as shown in a block 5130.

Thereafter, based on the RC, none, one or more selected bits are punctured from the now combined output of the first interleaver and CTE and the second interleaver and the second CTE as shown in a block 5140. These remaining bits then form a symbol, and this symbol is mapped into a particular modulation's constellation and mapping (as governed by the RC) as shown in a block 5150. This encoding may be performed multiple times to generate a number symbols corresponding to one or more RCs. These symbols are then sent out according to a rate control sequence that is made of one or more RCs as shown in a block 5160.

FIG. 52 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate decoding method 5200 that is performed according to the invention. As shown in a block 5210, the I,Q portions of a received signal are received. A RC is determined in a block 5220. Output metric are calculated based on the I,Q of the received symbol and its mapping as shown in a block 5240.

Afterwards, soft symbol decisions are generated using these output metrics (within a SISO) according to the RC as shown in a block 5250. After these soft decisions have been made, then hard symbol decisions are made based on the soft symbol decisions according to the RC as shown in a block 5260.

FIG. 53 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate coding method 5300 that is performed according to the invention. A first frame is encoded using a first rate control sequence (RC Seq 1) as shown in a block 5310. A second frame is encoded using a second rate control sequence (RC Sequence 2) as shown in a block 5320. The operations within the blocks 5310 and 5320 may be performed within a single encoder in certain embodiments.

The first frame is decoded using the RC Seq 1 in a block 5340. The second frame is decoded using the RC Seq 2 in a block 5350. Each of the operations within the blocks 5340 and 5350 may be performed within separate decoders (a decoder #1 and a decoder #2) in certain embodiments or they may be performed within a single decoder in other embodiments.

It is also noted that the encoding within the blocks 5310 and 5320 and the decoding within the blocks 5340 and 5350 all employ the same trellis according to TTCM encoding/decoding.

FIG. 54 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate coding method 5400 that is performed according to the invention. A frame is encoded using first rate control sequence (RC Seq 1) as shown in a block 5410. The same frame is also encoded using a second rate control sequence (RC Seq 1) as shown in a block 5420. The operations within the blocks 5410 and 5420 may be performed within a single encoder in certain embodiments.

The resultant frame that was encoded using the RC Seq 1 is then decoded using the RC Seq 1 in a block 5440. The resultant frame that was encoded using the RC Seq 2 is decoded using the RC Seq 2 in a block 5450. Each of the operations within the blocks 5440 and 5450 may be performed within separate decoders (a decoder #1 and a decoder #2) in certain embodiments or they may be performed within a single decoder in other embodiments.

It is also noted that the encoding within the blocks 5410 and 5420 and the decoding within the blocks 5440 and 5450 all employ the same trellis according to TTCM encoding/decoding.

FIG. 55 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate coding method 5500 that is performed according to the invention. An individual symbol is encoded using a first rate control (RC 1) as shown in a block 5510. A second individual symbol is then encoded using a second rate control (RC 2) as shown in a block 5520. The operations within the blocks 5510 and 5420 may be performed within a single encoder in certain embodiments.

These resultant encoded symbols, that were encoded using the RC 1 and the RC 2 as shown in the blocks 5510 and 5520, are then decoded using the RC 1 and the RC 2 as shown in blocks 5530 and 5540, respectively. Each of the operations within the blocks 5540 and 5550 may be performed within a single decoder in certain embodiments. Alternatively, these operations within the blocks 5540 and 5550 may be performed within separate decoder in other embodiments.

It is also noted that the encoding within the blocks 5510 and 5520 and the decoding within the blocks 5540 and 5550 all employ the same trellis according to TTCM encoding/decoding.

It is noted here that the RCs (RC 1 and RC 2) that are employed to perform the encoding of the symbols govern the code rate and modulation (constellation and mapping) that correspond to these symbols. That is to say, the code rate may vary on a symbol by symbol basis. In addition, the modulation (either one or both of the constellation and mapping) may also vary on a symbol by symbol basis.

FIG. 56 is an operational flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a TTCM variable code rate encoding method 5600 that is performed according to the invention. As shown in a block 5610, input information is encoded thereby generating a number of encoded bits. This encoding may also include puncturing that is performed according to the invention. Afterwards, as shown in a block 5620, these encoded bits are then grouped into two or more sub-groups (shown here as a sub-group 1 and a sub-group 2).

As shown in a block 5630, the bits of one of the sub-groups (sub-group 1) are used as a first encoded symbol (encoded symbol 1). This encoded symbol 1 is then mapped using a modulation 1 having its unique constellation and mapping. Similarly, as shown in a block 5640, the bits of another of the sub-groups (sub-group 1) are used as a second encoded symbol (encoded symbol 2). This encoded symbol 2 is then mapped using a modulation 2 having its unique constellation and mapping.

In alternative embodiment, as shown in a block 5645, the bits of the sub-group 1 are used as a second encoded symbol (encoded symbol 2). Then, this encoded symbol 2 is then mapped using the same modulation 1, having its unique constellation and mapping, as is used for the encoded symbol 1. This embodiment corresponds to the situation where the number of bits for the sub-group 1 and the sub-group 2 have the same number of bits.

Many benefits are provided by the various aspects of the invention. It will now be understood that the variable code rate functionality of the invention described herein will provide for significantly extending the art of coding to higher order constellations and achieving higher rates of communication thereby enabling much greater throughput than has yet been achieved within turbo coding systems.

In addition, it is also noted that the various aspects of the invention are extendible to any Trellis Coded Modulation (TCM) communication systems, and not only those that employ Turbo Trellis Coded Modulation. For example, other trellis types of coded may also benefit from the invention to achieve the many benefits described herein, including variable code rate.

In view of the above detailed description of the invention and associated drawings, other modifications and variations will now become apparent. It should also be apparent that such other modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An apparatus, comprising: an input that is operable to receive a signal from a communication channel, wherein: the signal includes a first symbol, that includes a first number of bits, that has been symbol mapped to a first modulation; and the signal includes a second symbol, that includes a second number of bits, that has been symbol mapped to a second modulation; and one decoder that is operable to: make a first best estimate of the first number of bits within the first symbol; and make a second best estimate of the second number of bits within the second symbol; and a rate control sequencer that is operable to provide a rate control sequence, that includes a first rate control and a second rate control, to the one decoder; and wherein: the first symbol has been encoded using a first code rate; the second symbol has been encoded using a second code rate; the first rate control indicates the first code rate and the first modulation to the one decoder; and the second rate control indicates the second code rate and the second modulation to the one decoder.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a metric generator that is operable to: for the first symbol, calculate a first plurality of metrics that is indexed by a first symbol mapping of constellation points within the first modulation; and for the second symbol, calculate a second plurality of metrics that is indexed by a second symbol mapping of constellation points within the second modulation.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the first symbol also includes an uncoded bit; and the one decoder is operable to make a best estimate of the uncoded bit within the first symbol based on a value of a metric within the first plurality of metrics.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first modulation and the second modulation each include a same number of constellation points; constellation points within the first modulation are symbol mapped according to a first symbol mapping; and constellation points within the second modulation are symbol mapped according to a second symbol mapping.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first modulation includes a quadrature phase key shifting (QPSK) constellation; and the second modulation and the second modulation includes an 8 phase key shifting (PSK) constellation.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first code rate is the second code rate.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the signal is a turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM) signal; and the one decoder is a TTCM decoder.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the signal is a turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM) signal; and the one decoder is a TTCM decoder that includes: a single soft-in soft-out functional block (SISO) decoder; and a single interleaver/de-interleaver that is operable to perform interleaving of first extrinsic information generated by the SISO decoder during a first time during decoding; and the single interleaver/de-interleaver is operable to perform de-interleaving of second extrinsic information generated by the SISO decoder during a second time during decoding.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first symbol and the second symbol are arranged in a first period; the signal also includes a third symbol and a fourth symbol that are arranged in a second period; the rate control sequence is a first rate control sequence; the rate control sequencer is operable to provide the first rate control sequence to the one decoder and a second first rate control sequence to the one decoder; the second rate control sequence includes a third rate control and a fourth rate control; the third symbol has been encoded using a third code rate; the fourth symbol has been encoded using a fourth code rate; the third rate control indicates the third code rate of the third symbol to the one decoder; and the fourth rate control indicates the fourth code rate of the fourth symbol to the one decoder.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first symbol and the second symbol are arranged in a first period; the signal also includes a third symbol and a fourth symbol that are arranged in a second period; the rate control sequencer is operable to provide the first rate control sequence to the one decoder and a second first rate control sequence to the one decoder: the second rate control sequence includes a third rate control and a fourth rate control; the third symbol has been encoded using the first code rate; the fourth symbol has been encoded using the second code rate; the third rate control indicates the first code rate of the third symbol to the one decoder; and the fourth rate control indicates the second code rate of the fourth symbol to the one decoder.
 11. An apparatus, comprising: an input that is operable to receive a signal from a communication channel, wherein: the signal includes a first symbol, that includes a first number of bits, that has been symbol mapped to a first modulation; and the signal includes a second symbol, that includes a second number of bits, that has been symbol mapped to a second modulation; and one decoder that includes a metric generator, a soft-in soft-out functional block (SISO), and an output processor: a rate control sequencer that is operable to provide a rate control sequence, that includes a first rate control and a second rate control, to the one decoder; and wherein: the first symbol has been encoded using a first code rate; the second symbol has been encoded using a second code rate; the first rate control indicates the first code rate and the first modulation to the one decoder; the second rate control indicates the second code rate and the second modulation to the one decoder; the metric generator is operable to: for the first symbol, calculate a first plurality of metrics that is indexed by a first symbol mapping of constellation points within the first modulation; and for the second symbol, calculate a second plurality of metrics that is indexed by a second symbol mapping of constellation points within the second modulation; the SISO is operable to: for the first symbol, calculate a first soft symbol decision using the first plurality of metrics; and for the second symbol, calculate a second soft symbol decision using the second plurality of metrics; and the output processor is operable to: make a first best estimate of the first number of bits within the first symbol using the first soft symbol decision; and make a second best estimate of the second number of bits within the second symbol using the second soft symbol decision.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the first symbol also includes an uncoded bit; and the output processor is operable to make a best estimate of the uncoded bit within the first symbol based on a value of a metric within the first plurality of metrics.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the first modulation and the second modulation each include a same number of constellation points; constellation points within the first modulation are symbol mapped according to a first symbol mapping; and constellation points within the second modulation are symbol mapped according to a second symbol mapping.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the rate control sequencer provides the rate control sequence to the metric generator, the SISO, and the output processor: the first rate control indicates the first code rate and the first modulation to each of the metric generator, the SISO, and the output processor within the one decoder; and the second rate control indicates the second code rate and the second modulation to each of the metric generator, the SISO, and the output processor within the one decoder.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first code rate is the second code rate.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the signal is a turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM) signal; and the apparatus is a TTCM decoder.
 17. A method, comprising: receiving a signal from a communication channel, wherein the signal includes a first symbol, that includes a first number of bits, that has been symbol mapped to a first modulation and a second symbol, that includes a second number of bits, that has been symbol mapped to a second modulation; based on a first rate control that indicates the first modulation and a first code rate of the first symbol, decoding the signal using one decoder thereby making a first best estimate of the first number of bits within the first symbol; and based on a second rate control that indicates the second modulation and a second code rate of the second symbol, decoding the signal using the one decoder thereby making a second best estimate of the second number of bits within the second symbol.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein: the first symbol also includes an uncoded bit; and further comprising: for the first symbol, calculating a plurality of metrics that is indexed by a symbol mapping of constellation points within the first modulation; and decoding the signal thereby making a best estimate of the uncoded bit within the first symbol based on a value of a metric within the plurality of metrics.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein: the first modulation and the second modulation each include a same number of constellation points; constellation points within the first modulation are symbol mapped according to a first symbol mapping; and constellation points within the second modulation are symbol mapped according to a second symbol mapping.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: the first modulation and the second modulation each include a same number of constellation points; constellation points within the first modulation are arranged in a first pattern and are symbol mapped according to a first symbol mapping; and constellation points within the second modulation are arranged in a second pattern and are symbol mapped according to a second symbol mapping. 